December 13, 2014

Reminders of good

The world is a tough place right now. It’s impossible to watch the news, read the paper, or even cast a sideways glance towards the internet without being bombarded by the pain and suffering that seems to be spilling over everywhere, all across the globe. Issues with race, hunger, equality, sexuality, discrimination, war, famine and abuse are everywhere. And it’s easy to feel like as a global community, we are taking giant leaps backward. And while that may feel true (and honestly, in some parts of the world, including our own, is desperately true) it is important that we continue to find blessings in those around us. Those glinting sparks of goodness that show us there is still basic good out there. The stuff that fills your hearts and makes you feel happy, hopeful. Those are the messages we need to pass around this season.

So here are a few we’ve found recently. Reading these stories, seeing these photos, experiencing these emotions made us feel happy and connected — for you, we hope it does the same.

From love to love. This is so powerful. An unbelievably poignant photo essay showing the beautiful relationship between a birth mother and her daughter’s new adoptive family. It exalts the love and doesn’t shy away from the pain. Documenting the emotional waves of their experience is one of the greatest gifts they could have given themselves, and the level of respect it shows for the entirety of the process is truly humbling.

This harried mama felt like a total mess during a recent shopping trip with her family. What someone noticed among the chaos brought her to tears.

During National Adoption Month, America Adopts! reached out to their community to ask them to finish the sentence “Open adoption is…” and the responses they got were so inspiring. To see so many people connected to the open adoption world with such positive things to say shows how special that connection truly is. Read the 30 responses posted throughout the month here!

Also from America Adopts! this one goes out to the all birth mothers struggling to move forward after placing their baby for adoption. This birth mother pushed through, found ways to build hope and momentum, and is now happily married and planning how to raise children of her own. Her positivity is contagious!

What about you? Have you seen any inspirational stories that have made you feel just a little bit better about the world? We’d love for to share them with us!