Roughly a year ago when Jenn Watson asked her sister, Katie, and brother in law, Josh, if they would adopt a little special needs boy from China.
On December 31, I joined Jenn, her family and fellow squad-mates anticipating Zi’s homecoming. We stood at the international arrivals gate at Newark airport looking through the faces for Josh and Katie.
Their two children, Isabelle and Micah, were beside themselves with excitement. Mom and Dad had been gone for a few weeks now, finishing up the process of bringing Zi home.
“Mom and Dad have black bags.” Isabelle informed our look out Nicole.
“And a small child.” Micah added on.
My squad-mates and I had seen the beginning of the story, and we were going to see the next chapter begin. Zi was an orphan no longer, he had a family waiting for him.
Grandma moved to the dividing ropes, looking hopefully down the long hallway. We picked up the signs Jenn had made and joined her.
“I think that’s them!” Nicole said.
“It’s Mom and Dad! And they have Zi!” Isabelle shouted, a smile exploding across her face.
Katie and Josh saw their family and started running, despite the fatigue of the trip, the luggage and carrying a seven year old.
Those barriers didn’t stand a chance. There was a beautiful eruption of joyous noise as hugs and kisses were dolled out.
The homecoming was stirring in a way that I don’t think any of us really foresaw. Personally, as someone who struggles with believing that I am adopted and accepted into God’s family, it struck a tender cord.
Having met Zi in China as a loved orphan, and now seeing him as loved son, it was like seeing two different kids.
When any of us truly accepts the fact that we are God’s children and all that is entailed in that, we’ll no longer be orphans, but transformed into daughters and sons. I’m working on fully accepting this truth, how do you feel about it?
Welcome home Zi, thank you God for teaching me through this story and for being so good. Amen.
Thank you for reading!
