Wanna bet? How about you attempt to say that again, as I sit here pulling your front teeth out of my knuckles?
That’s not the response I’m supposed to have is it? I have to get a handle on this and I need to do it pronto. The church held a family movie night last night. The adults enjoy a Christian film in the sanctuary while the kiddos play, build up crafts, etc. in the fellowship hall. It’s kind of a fun thing all around. At some point the church is going to have to remember to turn the heat on more than six minutes prior to showtime, as the tears extracted me from the depth of the movie turned to ice on my cheek a couple times last night. <— Insert smiling emoji here…
Here’s the irony of the whole thing, and really it goes to the heart of the matter and the purpose for why I’m blogging today. We watched “October Baby” last night. If you haven’t seen it, I recommend it. It deals with adoption, abortion, and mostly forgiveness.
Throughout the movie I heard the same things over and over in various actor’s parts. They were along the lines of “she’s not your real daughter,” or “you’re not my real dad.” As an adoptive parent I can tell you that’s a sure fire way to cut me to shreds. I assure you, I’m my daughter’s daddy. My wife is my son’s mommy. But here’s the scoop and there’s no way around it… I have to forgive somebody when they say something like that. They simply don’t understand.
The movie didn’t intend to hurt anyone’s feelings, and I’d spoil it if I told you what happened, but suffice it to say that the problems associated with the “you’re not my dad” misunderstanding were dealt with. Where does that leave me? Well, simply put, that leaves me longing for my own understanding and my brand of forgiveness. Yes, it’s my responsibility to educate others to adoption so they grasp the beauty of what my family enjoys, but there is a prerequisite. I have to forgive them for what they don’t yet know. I can’t be in a position to see red each time I hear a person drop some silly phrase without having a clue as the weight of what it can really mean to me and mine.
Ephesians 4:32 – Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
I need to latch onto forgiveness with both hands and practice it actively.
Be salt and light my friends…
Also, here’s the trailer to the movie. Check it out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxH2fPhrNEc