Congratulations Shawn and Holly

One of the matras I have in counseling couples on the adoption journey is to "love big." 

Shawn and Holly have been a beautiful example of loving big, particularly when it comes to their sweet birth mother. They met her at a sandwich shop for the first time just a month after their home study was ready. What always begins as an awkward meeting ended in praying over the expectant birth mother and hugging her neck. 

I watched over the next few months as they continued to build a relationship with her. Catching up through phone calls and texts, planning for the baby's arrival, and praying over her, her family, and the baby they would all call their son.

But loving big always involves risk.

Will this turn out the way we planned?

Will our hopes finally come to fruition?

Will everything go smoothly?

Can we trust that God will be faithful?

Shawn and Holly entered into all the questions, all the risks, and all of the unknowns and fully embraced all of the bittersweetness of adoption. They grieved with their birth mama. They celebrated their son's life. They held their breath in the waiting and marveled at God's goodness in the fulfillment of their dream.

The first thing Holly told me once they knew he was forever theirs? That her heart was heavy for their birth mother but that she has complete confidence in God's ability to supernaturally meet all of her needs and that she was in awe of this woman who has given their family so much. 

Loving big is so worth the risk. Especially in adoption.