Yes, I'm one of those people who have trouble answering those "Always True", "Somewhat True", "Never True" questionnaires.
And, yes, I'm one of those people who can check A, B, C, or D to the question you've asked me but that also really needs and extra sheet of paper so that I can further explain!
And as a matter of fact, I am finding out that I am one of those people who think the paperwork that accompanies the adoption process can be a bit intimidating.
The process, including the paperwork, really does put one 'under the microscope'. Sure, it's hard to lay bare your life (health issues, budgets and finances, parenting skills, etc.) in detail like you've never had to do before and allow scrutiny and intense analysis....However, it is, without question,
necessary.
But it's not all bad...really!
There's something of significant value to having to put words to things you might not otherwise ever take the time to do. I don't think I'd ever decide to write about my life in the way that the
detailed autobiographies we have to write will require me to do. We've already had to put thought and pencil to things like...
How do you deal with sin in your life?
Reasons for adopting
What do you believe a person is to do to grow spiritually?
Our personal testimonies
...just to name a few...
And today, even, I had to start attempting to put into words my philosophy regarding the spiritual training of my children....
(an excerpt) "It is all about discipleship. As I follow Christ and seek to obediently live as He lived, I share that with my children....While it is my goal to teach and train my children thoughtfully and deliberately to the glory of God, I also realize my personal relationship with Christ is one of the keys to my children be brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord....The ideas and values that rule our lives as parents will have a profound impact on our children... I believe that we as parents are on assignment from God to teach and train the children He has entrusted to us. The results of that assignment can potentially affect many, many lives."
While I'm only beginning to flesh that one out onto paper, it has been helpful. I'm defining my mission as a parent and soon it will be on paper...almost as a reference or a reminder when I need it ~ something to measure myself against and to help me keep my eyes on the big picture.
In all sincerity, it is a tremendous amount of work.
I believe God is simply being gracious and giving me a positive perspective on it. I feel the same way about writing my testimony and the other personal topics we've already had to write about (as
well as those to come) and even all the health and financial hoo-hah. They're each like a sticky note with intensity. Reminders of where we've been, of His mercy and grace, of our hearts, of the moments that led us to begin this journey, of the things we need to work on and so on.
See, I couldn't come up with those positives, so it's got to be from God!
That's not to say that next week I won't be buried under a pile of ripped-out, snowball-shaped pieces of notebook paper and locks of my brown hair in my hands that I've yanked out!
Thankfully my sweet husband and closest girlfriends are the kind who will just pull what's left of my hair into a ponytail, start picking up the piles of paper, put a pencil back into my hand,
coddle me for a minute or two, and then say "Now, WRITE!"....
~M
And, yes, I'm one of those people who can check A, B, C, or D to the question you've asked me but that also really needs and extra sheet of paper so that I can further explain!
And as a matter of fact, I am finding out that I am one of those people who think the paperwork that accompanies the adoption process can be a bit intimidating.
The process, including the paperwork, really does put one 'under the microscope'. Sure, it's hard to lay bare your life (health issues, budgets and finances, parenting skills, etc.) in detail like you've never had to do before and allow scrutiny and intense analysis....However, it is, without question,
necessary.
But it's not all bad...really!
There's something of significant value to having to put words to things you might not otherwise ever take the time to do. I don't think I'd ever decide to write about my life in the way that the
detailed autobiographies we have to write will require me to do. We've already had to put thought and pencil to things like...
How do you deal with sin in your life?
Reasons for adopting
What do you believe a person is to do to grow spiritually?
Our personal testimonies
...just to name a few...
And today, even, I had to start attempting to put into words my philosophy regarding the spiritual training of my children....
(an excerpt) "It is all about discipleship. As I follow Christ and seek to obediently live as He lived, I share that with my children....While it is my goal to teach and train my children thoughtfully and deliberately to the glory of God, I also realize my personal relationship with Christ is one of the keys to my children be brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord....The ideas and values that rule our lives as parents will have a profound impact on our children... I believe that we as parents are on assignment from God to teach and train the children He has entrusted to us. The results of that assignment can potentially affect many, many lives."
While I'm only beginning to flesh that one out onto paper, it has been helpful. I'm defining my mission as a parent and soon it will be on paper...almost as a reference or a reminder when I need it ~ something to measure myself against and to help me keep my eyes on the big picture.
In all sincerity, it is a tremendous amount of work.
I believe God is simply being gracious and giving me a positive perspective on it. I feel the same way about writing my testimony and the other personal topics we've already had to write about (as
well as those to come) and even all the health and financial hoo-hah. They're each like a sticky note with intensity. Reminders of where we've been, of His mercy and grace, of our hearts, of the moments that led us to begin this journey, of the things we need to work on and so on.
See, I couldn't come up with those positives, so it's got to be from God!
That's not to say that next week I won't be buried under a pile of ripped-out, snowball-shaped pieces of notebook paper and locks of my brown hair in my hands that I've yanked out!
Thankfully my sweet husband and closest girlfriends are the kind who will just pull what's left of my hair into a ponytail, start picking up the piles of paper, put a pencil back into my hand,
coddle me for a minute or two, and then say "Now, WRITE!"....
~M
Kampala Time
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