The Adoption Curse

Like most urban legends, no one is quite sure where the origin of the "Adoption Curse" lies.  Some skeptics may even try downplay its existence with words like "coincidence."  What is the Adoption Curse?  Let us give you the official Etter definition:  It's any unfortunate event that happens during your adoption process that is designed to create stress, deplete finances, and/or test faith. 

And the curse is real, ya'all.

Last week, while we were visiting N in his eastern European country, we signed consent forms essentially making the next boldly official step toward becoming his parents. 

Cut to this week.  We return home from our meetcha trip after a long day of traveling across the world late Saturday night.  Sunday morning we proceed to take showers and do several loads of laundry in the hopes that our clothes will one day be rid of the smell of cabbage and European cigarettes. 

All of that water usage turned out to be too much for our underground pipes which had already had a soft clog (unbeknownst to us).  Backing up - with waste water.  Backing up to the point of flooding our basement.  With waste water.  Our beautiful basement, lovingly refinished just about 3 years ago.  Waste water.  Waste.  Water.   Yes, the curse is real. 

BEFORE

AFTER

Yes, the curse is real.  But it wasn't our adoption that brought it upon us.  The curse started way back in the Garden of Eden and it's been plaguing mankind ever since.  The curse is the result of a fallen world and a depraved humankind.  The curse is the enemy "seeking whom he may devour."  Satan would love nothing more than to see us fail.  Wouldn't it be so easy to curse God and throw up our hands in defeat?  Why would a loving God let this happen to us who are trying so hard to follow His plan?  These unfortunate circumstances were definitely designed to test our stress, our finances, and our faith in God.

But we, as Christians, see our circumstances a bit differently.  "We know that all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).  Did you catch that?  The Bible doesn't say that "all things ARE good..." (Waste water in our basement was most certainly and unequivocally NOT good).  It says that God can USE all things for good if we keep focused on His plan (His calling) for our lives. 

Not everything happens for a reason.  And we can't control everything that happens to us.  But we can 100 percent control what we do with the circumstances life gives us.  Including waste water in our beautiful basement.  Because, yes, God can use even this for His glory.  And we will come out on the other side with newfound perseverance, character and hope.  And we'll give the glory to God!