A young teenager in our youth group wrote this poem about her new much younger brother and sister.  For those of you who are adoptees or have siblings that are - this expressed what I have found is a common thread.  Fear, resentment, acceptance - love.

Adoption
You came into my life I didn’t really know you.
You came here to stay, but yet it felt like our old life was so far away.
I wanted you to stay.
But I wanted you to leave.
But the more I got to know you, the more I got to love you.
The more I got to see you, the less I was afraid.
Afraid of losing the only thing I had,
You know that it was truly hard for me to share my mom and dad.
But then I had to realize I truly had to see,
That there was more to our home now then just me.
I got to spend some time with you, and you asked me questions,
So now each and everyday I get to watch you grow and grow.
I miss you when I’m gone.
I miss you when you’re near.
I love it when we play.
And we go camping in your bedroom.
I love to read to you, and hear your little voice.
I wish that I could understand you more,
But sometimes it’s hard to think twice.
I know that it will still take time to love each other more.
And even when I am grown and gone.
I pray that our relationship will still stand strong.
Picnics in the backyard.
Flowers in a hand.
I know that I will forever love you,
The more and more we stand.
Walking down the street.
Playing in the sand.
Waiting for you to fall asleep.
Or maybe just holding your hand.
I wish that you could understand just how I feel for you.
This poem is my exact thoughts from the moment I first saw you.
I love you more then yesterday but less then tomorrow.
Swimming at the beach,
Castles in the sand,
Good times,
Bad times,
Wishing for more time that we could always have.
Brother and Sister, I love you and I pray all the time, that God would bring us closer all the time. I am so happy that you guys are now ours, and that you are here to stay, so we can hold you in our arms. I didn’t really understand that when you first came that you would stay forever. And I know that there have been times when I did not want you to stay. But now all those thoughts have gone away. I love you and will never want you guys to leave. I love being your big sister. I hope that you feel the same.
I love you guys.