(tip: klik op de translator en zet 'm op Nederlands als je moeite hebt met de Engelse taal. Nu staat íe al op Nederlands, dus klik eerst een andere taal aan en dan weer opnieuw Nederlands, dan wordt dit artikel ook meegenomen in de vertaling. Soms lopen de zinnen niet goed, maar de strekking is wel duidelijk)
Several months ago a friend e-mailed me a humbling question. She asked:
I wanted to engage you on a topic that I know many white
mothers who adopted African children (or domestically adopted bi-racial
children) wonder. That is, in our insecure moments, we wonder (a) Do I
have what it takes to raise an African child (because I really do NOT
get what it's like to be in the minority---I don't even think minority)
and (b) Do all the African American women out there frown upon us having
adopted a black child?
I thanked my friend for asking me these questions. What a humble woman to seek out the thoughts and advice of a woman who
does relate to being a minority. If I understand her questions, she is not alone in wondering these things.
So here's how I answered. I cannot speak for the entire black female
community. Not only that, but my opinion is of little value compared to
the opinion of God (
1 Corinthians 4:3-4). And that is where I'd like to look. What does God's Word say about transracial adoption?
Do I have what it takes to raise an African child?
God's Word instructs us to train up our children in the way they should go (
Proverbs 22:6).
This is no easy task. My parenting so far has been filled with crying
out to God for wisdom and grace and praying God would captivate my kids'
hearts. Apart from God's strength and wisdom none of us has what it
takes to raise a child.
But you do have a unique circumstance in raising a child outside of
your "race." I have two beautiful biracial babies (they aren't babies
anymore, but they'll always be
my babies). My kids have very
light complexions. My son has straight hair, and if you saw them on the
street--without me--you would think they were white (only). I've
wrestled with wondering if my son would reject me as he gets older and
realizes just how different we look.
But instead of looking inward at what I can or cannot do, as I've
raised my kids I've learned to look upward. God in his sovereignty made
me their mommy. He knew before time that they would be knit in my womb (
Psalm 139:13).
Though your babies weren't knit in your womb, God knew that one day
they would call you mother. The lines have fallen for you in pleasant
places, and I believe the lines have fallen for your children in
pleasant places too (
Psalm 16:5-6).
God's Thoughts
Your children have been sovereignly placed in your home by an
all-knowing, all-powerful, all-loving God! God calls us all to care for
the orphaned. James addresses our obedience in this area as pure
religion (
James 1:27). God
addresses the importance of caring for the orphaned through all of
Scripture. But he isn't just commanding Christians to serve the
afflicted; he encourages the orphan this way. Indeed, "Father of the
fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation" (
Psalm 68:5).
You, transracial adoptive mom, are doing the work of the Lord! There
will be difficulties, but as we all must, call out for wisdom from the
God who loves to answer the prayers of the Saints (
Proverbs 2:1-6).
Reflection of the Last Day
Each day you wake up to a home filled with color and diversity is a
day that you wake up reflecting the last day. The last day when all
tongues and tribes will be worshiping as one. You get a small glimpse
into heaven. And if you have other children, they, too, get to
experience firsthand the beauty and majesty of God's creativity.
So to answer your question: If God accepts both Jew and Greek, and if
on that last day all nations will worship God together, surely I should
be rejoicing at the thought of an orphan receiving a home regardless of
race or ethnicity. I can be understanding, supportive, and grateful
that God would lay it on your heart to care for black orphan children.
On
that day I pray I will be standing beside you and your
black child praising the Lord. Thank you for extending your ministry in
your home to those who are different than you, and by the grace of God
those differences will be secondary to your sameness when that child
knows the Lord as you do.
Trillia Newbell is a freelance journalist and
writer. She writes on faith and family for The Knoxville News-Sentinel,
and serves as managing editor for
Women of God Magazine.
Her love and primary role is that of a wife and mother. She lives in
Tennessee with her husband, Thern, and their two children, Weston and
Sydney.
BRON: http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/07/22/do-i-have-what-it-takes-to-raise-an-african-child/
