Satisfying the Questions of Llama

The family was watching American Idol last night, it was their annual "America gives back" episode. They provide relief to people in Africa stricken with AIDS. On the screen was a young girl. She looked like she was starving to death, but her story revealed that her mother died of AIDS and the lack of medical care meant this girl was born with HIV. These days, drugs make it easier for an infected mother, who is getting the right medications, to give birth to a child who would be disease free. Not so in this case.

Llama was very concerned for this girl. She was concerned that she was sick, that she was in the hospital and that she had no mother. Later, they showed that same girl after getting medical treatment and care. She was healthier, heavier and happier. Oh, what we can do with a few drugs and attention! Llama was glad the girl was better, but wanted to know if she was still in the hospital. She was not. She was in an orphanage.

Which brings us to THE conversation. What is an orphanage? Who will take care of her and help her if her mommy is dead? How did her mommy die? Will we die? To which Daddy Cool and I tried to answer her as plainly and honestly as we could. She was preoccupied with death for a few moments, a scary topic for many, and very scary to a child. Then she moved on to THE QUESTION.

She started by saying that she hoped someone would come and get the girl and take care of her. I mentioned maybe someone will adopt her. Adopt her? What is Adopt? Remember that you were born from another mommy's tummy, and then Daddy & I got to take care of you? That's 'adopt'. We adopted you and your bubba. Is my other mommy dead like that girls? No. Did she give me away to you, then? No. The mommy you were born from was sick with lots of problems and needed help to care for you. She is not dead. God gave you to us to love and take care of so we could be a family. You, Daddy, Joe and I. Yeah, and Spooky, too. Yes, and maybe someone will come and take that girl and love her and she can have a family, too, like us. Yeah, and she could be borned from another mommy, and then get a new mommy, daddy and bubba- and Spooky... Mommy, if that other lady gets better, will you have to give me back? Mommy, will you have to give me back? No, honey, you are ours forever. You will be my baby girl forever. Daddy and I will love you and care for you forever. OK. I have a family, and maybe that girl can have one, too. (insert thumb in mouth and suck in a very satisfied manner)

That was the general gist of the talk. It happened in just a few minutes, and I hope her heart will be satisfied. I know she will be more curious as she gets older, and I hope she will be able to process the bigness of adoption. Her brother has done well with it, processing it in his own way. But he is older and remembers more. She was a newborn. She remembers nothing else. Oh, how I wish she could never know otherwise. But I believe in truth and reality. And she is mine, born of my heart, pleaded for in my prayers- and she came. I can't help feeling that because we were blessed, all will go well.

She was satisfied to know that she is loved, cared for and belongs here. And that she will be here forever. Sort of like how we should feel with God. Glad to belong and be a part, and to be His child forever. There is part of a poem I keep, and my children make me think of it often:


They are idols of hearts and of households;
They are angels of God in disguise;
His sunlight still sleeps in their tresses,
His glory still gleams in their eyes;
Oh, these truants from home and from heaven -
They have made me more manly and mild;
And I know now how Jesus could liken
The kingdom of God to a child!
~ Charles M. Dickinson

So, bring it on, Llama. Ask away. The wisdom I pray for, and often think I will never have, seems to come forth when you ask these very important questions. And when you ask them, I understand what the Bible means when it speaks of talking to each other with love. And I think the Love is the Wisdom- and I hope my sweet boy and girl can feel it and know that, although life is not perfect, so much can be made better by sharing that Love. I love you, Llama girl and Joe Cool.