GRAMMYLAND

A Heart Changed: Adoption from a Grandfather's Perspective

(I wrote this two days ago and it was published in America World Adoption today and I want to share it on my blog. If you do not believe in Jesus as your Lord, I hope you chose Him soon. God Bless and have a wonderful Christmas. )

My daughter and son-in-law adopted a little two-and-a-half-year-old girl in 2008 from China. She had severe heart defects and cleft lip and palate. When they first told us they were starting the adoption in the summer of 2007, I was not on board for a while. I very quickly came to terms with the idea and am today blessed to be called "Papa" by this wonderful little girl who is now five years old and very healthy. I love my youngest granddaughter very much.

Sometime in 2009 my daughter and son-in-law told us they were adopting again—this time, a ten-year-old boy from China. I was really not wanting to hear that. I thought this child was too old and we have five grandchildren already, including their three children and my oldest daughter's two children. I didn’t want any more; five was definitely enough. But late in 2009 they began to talk and pray about trying to adopt a five-year-old boy at the same time as their then waiting ten-year-old son. I thought they were crazy. I really thought they had gone off the deep end. I sure didn’t want two more grandsons at the same time! I had five grandchildren already.

To be completely honest, I hated the idea. I prayed about it and even talked to my minister. I discussed it with my wife also, but she did not agree with my feelings at all. I struggled with the idea of another grandchild or two by adoption for months. I did not tell my daughter how I felt but she knew I was not happy about it. Despite my feelings, the adoption took place and I found myself having seven grandchildren when I was completely satisfied with having the four and then five after our granddaughter arrived back in 2008.

Our two newest grandsons came home in July 2010. I found myself having to decide if I was going to try to love the boys. It didn’t take long to see it was going to be impossible not to love the older one. He was so loving to everyone it was impossible to resist his love. I thought to myself, "Well I will love him but I am not so sure about the five year old." The Lord really does have a sense of humor and here is why. I really didn’t want to have anything to do with our youngest new grandson, so I tried not to reach out to him in any way. In a very short time, he began calling me "Papa" just like his little sister (who is 4 months younger than him). Since the boys came home in the summer and we have a pool, my daughters and our grandchildren spent quite a bit of time hanging out here at the house. The more I resisted our youngest grandson, the five-year-old, the more he followed me everywhere I went all the time saying, "PAPA! PAPA!". I knew I had to give up and let him into my heart also. And I am so thankful I did!

The Lord put him in my life so quickly I could not resist. I am very happy to have both of my new grandsons now. I am still somewhat troubled with knowing how hard it has been on my daughter and her family during the transition, but I know they are blessed to have their five children. They are great parents. They really have a heart for adoption and I am glad to be a part of the process.