Freedom's Gift
by Jan Champoux
July 8, 2005
(AgapePress) - I recently received an e-mail from a friend visiting an orphanage in China. I couldn't help but smile at the images she conveyed -- a flock of impish kids, clamoring for hugs, toys and precious snack bags of colorful cereal.Xiao, a shy six-year-old girl, quietly hung back in the shadows. When Xiao was coaxed into accepting her gifts, my friend noticed that she was missing the fingers from one hand. My friend asked about the possibility of adopting Xiao, but her idea was dismissed with the wave of a hand. "Who would want such a child?" My heart sank as I read the words.
I think of Xiao often as I watch my own adopted Chinese daughter. Like Xiao, Emily is six years old and is missing the fingers on one hand. Both girls began life in much the same way, yet now their lives are so very different.
As an orphan, Xiao will receive only a limited education. She may never be accepted by others. As an adult, Xiao's best chance may be to stay hidden away at the orphanage, caring for other children who started out life in the same way as she.
As I turn my attention back to Emily, I am reminded of the difference that a family and freedom can make. I see a lighthearted, confident showboat who brightens any room. I also see a tender, nurturing soul.
She too may end up in some role as caregiver -- a doctor or nurse perhaps. I rejoice at what the future holds for my daughter, and remember to be thankful for opportunities of America. But my heart still aches for a little girl in the shadows.
Additional Essays:
Freedom's Blessing
Freedom's Promise
Freedom's Requirements
Freedom's Cost
Freedom's Foundation
Freedom's Courage
(these links will be activated as the essays are posted)
Jan Champoux is a stay-at-home mom, living with her husband and four children (including Emily Huaying) in Nebraska. This essay appeared in the July 2005 issue of AFA Journal, a monthly publication of the American Family Association.
