Where is my soap box??!?

I need this soap box. But this is not the point of this post.

Someone needs to look around for my soap box. I am about to burst.

I am not the about-to-burst type of person.

Ordinarily, I am the Woe-to-me-I-will-cry-it-out-then-put-on-my-big-girl-pants-and-deal-with-it kind of person.

But then every so often, I need to pull out my soap box out of the garage.

Today is that day.

Soap box issue #1

Ever since the first time we mentioned that we were adopting, people found fault with our decision.

Are you crazy? I can't wait for our kids to grow up and move out, what is wrong with you? Kids are too expensive. It is time to sit back and enjoy your life, ect...

Smile and nod, smile and nod.

Then they found out we were adopting from China.

HOLY MOSES.

There are kids here in the USA who need homes.  Why do you have to travel around the world when there are kids in your own neighborhood.

We know.  We tried.  Only to realize our daughter was not here, she was there.

(And HEY, are you adopting from here??  IS there someone in your home in need of a family and you rose up to the occasion?  I found out most did not.  Halleluia!! for those who did.  But to tell you the truth, those who we know who did adopt domestically, never judged our decision.  They just shared our joy.  Interesting.)

Now comes the most irritating comment from people.

AFRICA??!!?  Why don't you just go back to China?!?  Will she be black?  Why would you put a black child in your family.  They belong to black families.

EXCUSE ME??!!??!

We are adopting from the Congo because that is where our daughter is.

duh.

I pray with all my heart, our children in our home walk away from here delighting in their own heritage/race/color/sex/faith, as well as delighting in other's.

That they may look upon others, not because of what they look like, but who they are. My african daughter may love hispanic food as much as her chinese sister does, and our chinese daughter may excel in irish dancing as her big sister did.

Sometimes my evil heart screams silently " If you are so concerned about kids here, go and adopt one!!" But GOD is so good to me.  And HE allows me to just kindly explain HIS will in our lives.

Soap box issue #2.

I was talking to someone this weekend, and he made the comment " If you take a picture of me, it takes away part of my soul."

Well, maybe you need to START giving away parts of your soul instead of holding onto it with both hands.  Maybe then you will be less bitter.  It is a picture for crying out loud.  Get a grip.

Again, GOD is so good to my evil heart.  I honored the request, and prayed for him.  And myself. :P

Soap box issue #3.

When people tell me "Church is full of hypocrites."

In the words of a wise and joyous woman, Ruth Bell Graham:

Well, there is always room for one more.

Amen.

Okay, I know I need to work out my issues.  I know soap boxes are not necessarily graceful and kind. And probably not GODly either. 

But every so often people, myself included, need a good smack on the back of the head.

I am the person to do it?

I. WISH.

Pray for me.