The Greatest Joy

I travel quite a bit for my day job.  I enjoy it-and it’s important.  Of course, the downside is being away from my family too often.  However, upon my return, I absolutely love walking in and greeting my family.  My 7 year old runs full bore into my legs yelling dad.  I love it.  These moments continually reinforce the fact that my family is my greatest joy.  I love them more than life itself.  They give meaning to my life and peace to my soul.

Sometimes I reflect back on the choices I’ve made in my life.  My wife and I decided to adopt Gregory 8 years ago-admittedly her idea (that’s why I married her).  A few years after that, we adopted my other son Matthew.  Those decisions have completely altered my life in ways I could never have foreseen.  It haunts me to think where I would be in my life without having made those choices-not to mention thinking about where my boys would be had we not become a family together.  I am at peace, and I am happy.

Why write about my family and my greatest joy in a blog about orphans?  Simply because my children were once orphans. They set us upon this journey and made our family whole.  Thanks to some divine intervention and a very intuitive spouse, we are now a happy and thriving family.  Life is good.

Adoption is a personal choice.  It is fraught with complications, delays and some difficulties.  I’m anti-preachy and understand there are a multitude of issues involved with adoption.  However, for what it’s worth, it’s been one of the greatest blessings in my life and an integral part of me experiencing my greatest joy.  If you’ve ever entertained the idea, there are millions of orphans around the world who are yearning to be loved right now.  They probably can’t even fathom what it would be like to be part of your family.  My own experience in the process was scary, stressful, an emotional roller-coaster, and complicated. However, it has defined my life, my family, and given peace to my soul.  They are one of my greatest joys.

-Kevin