Orphan Sunday and the gift of family

One of the most beautiful gifts one can give another is the gift of family. Many orphans receive that gift from people who choose to adopt. Yesterday was Orphan Sunday, and Klaus Park in Jackson highlighted adoption, literally, as it was lit up to bring recognition to the many children in Missouri awaiting a home to call their own.

Consider the numbers. The Southeast Missourian reported last week that "15,000 children [are] in foster care in Missouri, and 1,200 are available for adoption," according to Crissy Mayberry, executive director of Hope Children's Home in Jackson, a not-for-profit. Representing those 1,200 children were 1,200 candles.

Orphan Sunday is bigger than Jackson, Cape Girardeau and even Southeast Missouri. Many countries observe it, and in the United States, the Orphan Care Alliance website states that on the second week of November, more than 1,000 events were anticipated. Here at home, "there's something for everybody," the assistant director of Lutheran Family and Children's Services of Missouri, Evelyn Beussink, said.

At the event, adoptive parents and professionals in the field shared their experiences. Those interested in learning more about foster care and adoption had an opportunity to hear from those who know best -- those who have adopted from home and abroad, including those who have adopted through the foster care system. And what could be more powerful than hearing from those who have been adopted themselves? They, of course, shared their stories.

People who could not attend were invited to light up wherever they were, Mayberry said, to show support for adoption and foster care. They were asked to turn on their porch lights during those 90 minutes.

"People can turn their porch lights on in honor of these children," Mayberry stated ahead of the event. "We think it would be a really beautiful event, with the 1,200 candles to help represent those children in need of a family."

Some churches and organizations did not wait until the national observance to highlight the need. In Cape Girardeau, for example, Lacroix United Methodist Church held Orphan Sunday on Nov. 6, the first Sunday of November, which is National Adoption Awareness Month.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if these events were the impetus to place each of those 1,200 children in loving, nurturing families?