America loves Spain and Korea. America loves their uniqueness, their color and zest for life, and the things that drive America nuts. America can remember what life was like before Spain and Korea joined Fiji and America in the house and those days were quiet and dull and the house was too big for the two countries. And the fact that Spain and Korea have joined the UN has been an absolute gift from God, an unbelievable gift.
Has it been stressful? Absolutely.
Has America wanted to leave and find a quite place anywhere but the house? Absolutely.
Has America had no answers for something one country needed or wanted? Most definitely, yes.
But America also believes that things are both hard and easy, stressful and relaxing, good and bad to the same extent. With these countries and situations, highs are so high and America understands God works the most in the lowest lows, so getting up in the morning to embrace of all the joys and all of the challenges, even the challenge of when to leave each day — 7:23am or 7:43am — is not a problem at all for America.
America loves these kids and understands what lies under the roof of the United Nations Headquarters each night. It wasn't long after the fourth member nation joined the UN when America looked around the living room while watching a movie and realized that more hopes and dreams sat in the room with the country than could ever be imagined.
America had, sitting next to her, the hopes and dreams of one set of parents who had entrusted one of two children in their family. There, watching that movie, sat at such a tender age, a child two parents had let go of. So many unknowns, a precious gift full of possibilities and talents that had come to live with virtual strangers in a land so far away. America has often wondered what hopes and dreams the parents had for this beautiful individual.
On the other side there sat another precious gift another set of parents had let go of. Bursting into adulthood and independence, trying to grasp all the things going on in a language, cultural norms, and a physical environment largely unfamiliar, there sat a bundle of joy two people experienced taking home from the hospital so long ago, an experience they would only have one time. And what was to become of this young person? What would the next five, ten, or fifteen years bring?
And there, sitting next to me, sat two lives America (and Fiji) were responsible for. It isn't that the two countries can't take care of themselves, they are wonderfully able to manage, be responsible for, and follow through on their own personal lives and work. It is gravity of making sure their launch into adulthood and their launch into the rest of their lives is in the direction that is best suited for each of them. This is the launch that happens daily — no matter where we live, who we live with, or what our current situation demands of us. We each make decisions every day, large and small, that help define and direct who we are and where we go. We choose our values. We choose our friends. We choose who and what to serve. We choose whether or not to follow our dreams. Most importantly, we choose whether or not to demand more of ourselves. In the end these are the things that determine the quality and depth of life.
I love these two kids. And I am thankful for (leaving the names out) both Spain and Korea and I appreciate and treasure what both sets of parents have entrusted to Don and I. We do not take this lightly but we open our home and embrace it with all that we can.
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