The Picture

by Ruth

We set up an evening to talk with the Drydens and meet their family, including the two adopted boys from Africa.

They were very welcoming, and we spent hours discussing their adoption story, the in and outs of their adoption process, and just lots and lots of details.

For me, finally meeting the two African boys was so amazing.  I had prayed for them and their adoption process for what seemed like a long time.  At this point they had been in the USA for a couple months.  They totally fit in, and other than skin color, it would be difficult to tell they were adopted.  The good thing is that these kids speak British English so while there are some differences in language, it is not a huge barrier.

We knew in advance that Dryden’s had a picture of this boy.  We discussed in advance whether or not we wanted to see it.  What would looking at it do?  Would it influence our decision?  It shouldn’t, but yet, it could.  It’s so hard to think that the fate of child could rest in seeing a picture of them.  Yet, that is how many adoptions take place.  There are pictures of a child on a website, and in looking though them, you are drawn to some in particular and not others.  Somehow, there is just something that seems so unfair about it, and yet it is part of the process.  There DOES need to be a connection.

At the end of our meeting, they offered to show us his picture.  After a little hesitation, we opted to see it.  They brought it up on the laptop, and then set it in front of us.

We knew his name.  Now we had a face.

There are no words to describe the feeling of looking into the eyes of the child that you have been talking and praying about.  The one who might become our child.  The one who wants a family – “even if it’s in Norway”.   The one who wants to be loved and belong.

Speechless.