12.24.2006

A Christmas reminder

Some dear friends have been trying to adopt a baby this year and were all
set to bring home a baby this week.
A lovely Christmas present, no?
Only the birth mother changed her mind at the last minute.
This isn't
the time of year to shake your fist at the heavens and question the fairness
of it all, but geez. Since they are far better people than I am,
I thought
I would share part of the gracious note that they sent out. They are a
class act and will be amazing parents.


...the final thing I want to share with you is the hope that this Christmas,
what just happened to us might give you the perspective to love your own
family just a little more this year.

Most people go through their lives assuming that having a family is a
natural thing. Hey, guess what? It's not. It's hard fought and won. It's
rare and precious and unfairly fragile. It has nothing to do with
determination and everything to do with luck. I don't care if it's
just you and your spouse; if your ex gets the kids on Christmas Eve and you
don't get them until New Year's; if your kids are grown and strewn all over the
country; if your babies are driving you batshit crazy, fighting over the better
presents; if there are so many of you at dinner you have to cook two
turkeys; or if your normal routine is to just sit there, silently chewing and
counting the minutes until you can leave. Whatever you have -
whether you're the Bradys or the Bundys - take stock in your luck and love it
just a little more this year.

It'll be fun.

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