SERVICE FEE
Written by Melanie
Spring '04
Someone asked me recently if we'd gotten our "money's worth" by going online with Christian Adoption. I immediately answered, "We got 10 times worth the service fee we paid. That question caused me to think more intently about what we've received for our service fee.
Initially and most importantly, we've received PRAYER. Prayer from other CA couples that are waiting for a baby to come into their lives or that have already waited and received their child. Prayer from non-CA family and friends is wonderful but there's warmth in knowing that others, who have experienced your pain, are praying for you. Some may say, "Why put so value on prayer?" Because we believe prayer is the most valuable Christian commodity that exists! Prayer has saved ME, my marriage, my relationships and my emotional state. To put it lightly, waiting for the baby can send you over the deep end sometimes, as we all know. The next thing that comes to mind when I assess our CA fee is friendship. I never expected to make friends, let alone friends that mean so much to me. I love my CA friends with a godly love that I've not experienced before. Some may have/had strong relationships before coming online and Praise God for that joy. But this CA family has been a life preserver in a sea of silent anguish for me. I encourage you to open up to others in CA that are going through the same emotions, doubts, worries, fears, concerns that we all face. God is quite hilarious, in that, He will often match us up with another CA couple that isn't anything like ourselves. This can cause us to evaluate ourselves, stretch and grow and maybe also laugh at ourselves about our "goofy" hang-ups! Give other CA'ers a try. Yes, it takes time, energy, and patience. But God is your supplier and protector. Trust Him to lead you! Another huge blessing that has changed my life has been the recognition of my God-given ability to write. I didn't even know I had this skill prior to coming online. I can talk for hours on the phone but writing was just too slow. I believe that reading, pondering on, and digesting everything that Deborah writes has encouraged me to communicate via the written word. God has been helping me develop a talent that was latent within me. I endeavor to bless others with my thoughts and how I've processed them during this journey. This too is a good thing to try--you may help someone that's going through the same series of questions and emotions. Whenever CA'ers write a blurb, a poem or a vignette, I'm encouraged! I clearly remember a vignette that Tabitha wrote that's on the web site. She wrote about feeling like the people in Babies'r'Us (workers & customers) would all know that she didn't belong there because she couldn't have children. I've felt the exact same way! I thought, "Wow, I can finally be honest with myself and others about how terrible infertility makes a woman feel." After reading that, I CHOSE to go into a Babies'r'Us and buy a stroller. I was invigorated and released from that bondage, a stronghold of the enemy. I DO belong there! My baby stroller is 18 mo. old but it's a reminder to me that I'll become a Mommy--one day. That stroller is not a source of pain but rather an encouragement. Go buy something, big or small-crib or pacifier. It can change your perspective about the waiting process! Have we gotten our "money's worth" in CA? YES! We're thankful that we didn't go with an agency to become an entry in their accounting books under receivables. They would have received money and maybe 2 years later we'd become parents, but we wouldn't have received the love and prayers from all of you. Most importantly, we wouldn't know what it means to receive "God's Best" or His "Champagne Child".
Melanie
For more information please read Flexible and Way. We encourage you to prayerfully consider registering with our service, and/or writing to us.
adoption@christianadoption.com
A non-profit Christian and Internet
service ministry, helping others in the adoption
process.
1.800.277.7006 620.251.4405
Deborah S. Hill P.O. Box 243 Coffeyville, KS 67337
www.christianadoption.com adoption@christianadoption.com
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