Easter is one of the most monumental times of the year for believers. Because of the emptiness of a long ago burial tomb our lives can hold hope for a full and forever future. The greatest gift ever was in the form of an “empty” Easter morning.

Our family celebrates like many others. We went to church, followed by the egg hunts both there and at the home of grandparents, but through out the day I found myself falling into a different kind of empty feeling. Looking at my children I could not help but think of what their birthfamilies have given up in order for them to have the life with our family that they do. Recently some of them have taken this further by allowing their pain and regret over the adoption decision to cloud our important relationship and bring further loss into these young lives. It has me so very sad on what should be this most joyous of days.

I wish that I could make everything new again for our family. I truly want to make a renewed understanding with those birthfamily members who have become so angry and bitter because of the pain involved with adoption that they can see no end in sight, but I am human and I can’t. Jesus CAN. I wish that somehow today they will be able to open their hearts and minds, release the pent up pain and anger and find that empty place that remains filled with hope for the future. This is a choice they have to accept though, Jesus forces his gift of healing on none of us. We have to let go and take it in because we know that he has taken the most painful and difficult things in this life and transformed them for us through his Easter gift.

Adoption can bear such unbelievable challenges sometimes that it must be hard to see the potential for God’s healing there, but without it where would we be? The first step is accepting his gift and moving forward toward healing and away from an empty, and a painful past. No one can make my child’s birthfamily move forward and work together with us for healing, they have to choose it and let go of the pain and hurt that is involved. I know they have been through much, they need relief from what must seem like an unimaginable source of hurt. Prayer that they will let go of the need to hold that pain is all we can currently offer to them.

The colored eggs, chocolate candy, and the gathering of family to celebrate the gift of Easter is such a blessing! My hope for you all is that you know the peace, and love that can be yours because HE first loved us so very, VERY much!

Resources

Adoption Grief

Success In Healing

The "How-To" Of Healing

God's Comforting Love