Finishing Last!

 

Chris and I ran a 10K today.  Well, I wouldn’t’ say that I “ran” it as there was a fair amount of walking that was intertwined in my running.  Chris did not and would not leave me so he finished as I did … last.  There is something humbling about coming in last, having the squad trailing the run behind you the entire time.  I am much more of a competitive person than Chris so of course it didn’t bother him to stay with me even if it meant he would also finish last.  I am blessed to have this partner in life.   I was challenged in my own words when I have told my kids that it doesn’t matter where you finish, as long as try and do your best.  So I am reminding myself of that today … someone has to finish last, right?

In thinking about this today I am realizing that I am not used to being last.  I was essentially born into privilege, not that my family had a lot of wealth, but the doors of opportunity were a plenty.  We were always encouraged and really anything that we wanted to pursue our parents would make happen for us.  I struggle sometimes with knowing how best to respond with that privilege I was born into.  Why me?  Why would I be ‘given’ so much?  Working in the adoption world I hear a lot of discussion about adoption, and with that comes those on the side that kids should not be adopted, rather, financial means should be provided for them to remain in live in the culture and/or family that they were born into.  I understand fully the value in this.  I am parenting a child trans-racially already and I know that there are things that she does not receive fully from us, and if I am going to be totally honest, she probably can’t receive fully from Caucasian parents.  However, I do know that her mom chose us because there were many things (beyond just culture) that she wanted for her daughter.  And by God’s grace she chose us for that.

Many of you probably don’t know, but my grandma was adopted.  She spent time in foster care in St. Paul, Minnesota, before her father voluntarily relinquished his rights because he could not provide for her and her two brothers (her mother had passed away years before – essentially starving to death).  She then went to the orphanage in Owatonna, Minnesota.  I am here, and able to do the things that God has designed for me in my life because someone adopted an orphan at the age of 12.  Someone gave her the gift of family, gave her opportunity and for that I am eternally grateful.  You may think that sounds like a dramatic statement, but truly, my grandparents would not have met had God not designed that she be adopted into the Peterson family.  It is a legacy in many ways fraught with pain and loss, but through the gift of family and as my grandma would always tell you, the redemption of Christ, became a beautiful thing.  So you see, it isn’t a given that you are born into a privileged life.  I think of this often when I think of our daughter in Ghana.  I wonder what her life is like and how it can be that God would choose for her to come into our family.  I am not trying to imply that she will gain “privilege” when arriving in our home, but her life will change drastically going from a developing country to suburbia in America.  We hope that God is preparing us adequately.  We know that we can’t do this alone and we humbly ask that you join with us in however God has equipped you!  I (we) may have finished last today, but that is okay!  J