The New Adoptee and His Friends

Friends...the one thing we prayed about before adopting. We prayed that Peter would have great friends who would help him stay on the path with Jesus and would like him for who he is. Eric, Andrew, Abi and I are surrounded by friends who do exactly this and we prayed that for Peter. We still do. Many of our friends boys were so excited to meet Peter. We, too, were excited. They met, then what? There is a new boy here that everyone has been talking about for months, prayed for, and helped raise funds for. But is it what they thought it would be?

We have been super impressed with how these wonderful the kids he has met have treated him. They have gone out of their way to include him and make him feel welcome. But it's hard being friends with a boy that comes from a different country, different language, different culture, and different life all together. They include him but it can only go so far when you can't speak. Peter is different. It's not bad different. It's just how things are right now. He is prone to fits when he isn't understood or gets frustrated easily when things do not get his way. He finds different things funny than they do. He doesn't get every game they play. He doesn't understand what they are saying. He is scared they will steal his toys and money. He doesn't understand true friendships yet. So they try and it can be confusing for both sides. So where do you go from here?

You keep trying. And that's what we've seen. These boys are not giving up. They keep trying even when it's hard. They do not understand it all but they keep trying and keep including him. That makes this mommy's heart smile. It makes me smile when I hear that a boy in his ELO class asked for Peter to be in his group. It makes me smile when a boy wants to come home after ELO to play with Peter even when he knows that Peter doesn't really get it yet. It makes me smile when a boy tells him mom that he thinks he and Peter will be good friends. It makes me smile when a group of boys yell bye to him when we leave ELO. It makes me smile when a boy at Sunday school works hard to teach him his name so they can be friends. It makes me smile when a boy jumps on a trampoline with him even when Peter plays rough. It makes me smile when I receive a text from another mom saying that her son said Peter is nice. It makes me smile when he sees his friend that he met in China and they have an inside joke between them. It makes me smile when Peter recognizes his friends and wants to tell them hello.

So what you do is get on your knees and thank the Lord for these sweet boys. You thank the Lord for Peter who keeps trying also. Can you imagine the confusion he feels? He had friends in China that he left behind now he's thrust into this world and told all these people want to be his friends. He has anger over some of this but they all keep trying. And for that, this mommy is very thankful. We know it's not easy for any of them but what a blessing it is to know these boy like him despite! We will keep praying that he will keep these friends for life and realize what a blessing they are. We pray that they will realize what a blessing he is to them also. And we thank the Lord He created friendships!