Before our adoption, I thought I already knew how to successfully create a biracial family through adoption. My heart was in the "right place." I was perplexed at the vast amount of adoption training our agency required. For example: How many close friends do you have that are of a minority race? How many role models within your child’s culture can you identify in your community? Somewhere near the middle of the training, I began to understand: Not because of my faults, but through circumstance, I didn’t get it. I have not walked the road of being adopted nor being a minority. I needed to open my mind and heart to a new understanding of adoption, race and culture – from the perspective of my future child. This work is ongoing.
Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. … ~Philippians 2:3-11
As a Christian adoptive mother, it’s a delicate task of advocating with grace. My children are watching me. I pray we will humbly forgive and with strength like Goliath, we will move mountains.
