Upon our return home from Korea with our baby we received a packet of post-adoption information from AIAA (Americans for International Aid and Adoption). Turns out, we’ve got some more paperwork to do — including a request for another blood test, which means Ethan will have to have blood drawn again at his next doctor’s visit! 😯
Included in the information packet, though, was a meaningful poem about adoption that we want to share with you …
“Legacy of an Adopted Child” (unknown author)
Once there were two women
Who never knew each other
One you do not remember
The other you call mother.Two different lives
Shaped to make you one.
One became your guiding star
The other became your sun.The first gave you life
And the second taught you to live it.
The first gave you a need for love
And the second was there to give it.One gave you a nationality
The other gave you a name.
One gave you the seed of talent
the other gave you aim.One gave you emotions
The other calmed your fears.
One saw your first sweet smile
The other dried your tears.One gave you up.
It was all that she could do.
The other prayed for a child
And God led her straight to you.And now you ask me through your tears
The age-old question through the years
Heredity or environment – which are you the product of?
Neither, my darling, neither
Just two different kinds of love.
Oh, how Randy and I thank God for the marvelous gift of our son! May he grow up to know that God’s hand has always been upon him. From conception to birth and into our arms … what a journey Baby Ethan has known already in his young life!
May God continue to guide Ethan’s footsteps before him, that he might someday declare with his mommy and daddy, “How great is our God!”
This child so fragile, yet so strong,
has taken us where we belong;
to hectic days and sleepless nights,
to new and wonderful delights.
You took so long to join us here,
we feared you never would appear.
But God knew just exactly who
would bring us joy and it was you!
Your life has given ours new voice.
Not of our genes but ours by choice.
In our home and hearts you’ll grow;
child of our prayers…we love you so
What a wonderful poem. God is surely guiding Ethan on a great journey and with the blessing of such Great parents. In seeing Ethan’s Grandmother (Shirley)yesterday, she is glowing as much as you were Joleen. Oh, How great is our God!
I was wondering around the adoption blog world and found yours. 🙂 Congratulations on your handsome little boy! Both my children are from Korea. They were through Eastern Social Welfare Society and that poem “Legacy of an Adopted Child” hangs in several places throughout their guesthouse (in English and Korean.) 🙂
oops- I meant “wandering”! 😀
from God’s arms, to my arms, to yours
So many wrong decisions in my past, I’m not quite sure
If I can ever hope to trust my judgement anymore.
But lately I’ve been thinking,
Cause it’s all I’ve had to do.
And in my heart I feel that I
Should give this child to you.
And maybe, you could tell your baby,
When you love him so, that he’s been loved before, By someone, who delivered your son,
From God’s arms, to my arms, to yours.
If you choose to tell him,
If he wants to know,
How the one who gave him life
Could bear to let him go.
Just tell him there were sleepless nights,
I prayed and paced the floors,
And knew the only peace I’d find,
Was if this child was yours.
And maybe, you could tell your baby,
When you love him so, that he’s been loved before,
By someone, who delivered your son,
From God’s arms, to my arms, to yours.
This may not be the answer,
For another girl like me.
But I’m not on a soapbox,
Saying how we all should be.
I’m just trusting in my feelings,
And I’m trusting God above,
And I’m trusting you can give this baby
Both his mothers’ love.
And maybe, you could tell your baby,
When you love him so, that he’s been loved before,
By someone, who delivered your son,
From God’s arms, to my arms, to yours.
(This poem was based on the writings of a young birth mother, whom she shared with songwriter Michael McClean. It has been set to music and comes with a 100% guarantee that no one who has been involved with adoption in any way will make it all the way through with dry eyes! )
© Michael McLean
from http://poetry.adoption.com/poems/from-gods-arms-to-my-arms-to-yours.html
the answer (to an adopted child)
Not flesh of my flesh
Nor bone of my bone,
But still miraculously
My own.
Never forget
For a single minute:
You didn’t grow under my heart
But in it.
© Fleur Conkling Heyliger
from http://poetry.adoption.com/poems/the-answer-to-an-adopted-child.html