Officially starting our adoption journey this past summer, I wasn’t sure what to think about birthmothers.  There was a part of me that struggled to understand them.  I had the thought early on that a baby would show up, maybe via stork even, and that was it.  I had forgotten or wanted to ignore a very important and special person in adoption: the birthmother.
 
I have grown so much in my understanding of birthmothers since then that I feel ashamed some times to think about my prior ignorance.  Today, I recognize them as special individuals and respect them for what they’re doing for their child.  My heart also goes out to birthmoms who are often misunderstood and devalued.  There is nothing that quite gets the Hulk in me fired up when I hear negative comments about birthmoms.
 
For me, I just didn’t know about birthmoms.  I was ignorant.  I lacked any awareness about birthmoms.  I was clueless.  And many of the opinions that Craig and I hear weekly demonstrate the same ignorance I was under. 

​For such a time as this.
 
The line kept popping into my head. 
 
I was struggling to even know how to write this week.  It’s been another challenging one in the journey of adoption.  Craig and I received another “not yet” on Thursday.  I had imagined this journey differently- easier, simpler, less painful. 
 
For such a time as this.
 
I didn’t really want to write.  Craig told me to take this week off, but I knew I couldn’t.  There was a story here to be told.  And that line.  It lingered.
 
For such a time as this. 
 
I couldn’t place it.  So, I Googled it.  It’s from Esther 4:14.  I can’t tell you the last time I was in the Book of Esther.  But I can tell you that I needed that verse.