It took us 6 trips. Probably something like a cumulative 20 odd hours of waiting in the heat of an early Bhiwandi summer. At least 3 times when we were told we would get the order.
But finally, and blessedly, this evening we left the authorities with a piece of paper in our hands giving us foster care rights for Yohan for the next 6 months.
We are finally legal. Something that we have been working on for the past 2.5 months. Something to provide an official framework for the miracle that Yohan is to us.
"You are not the parents of this child" is something that the head person on the panel took pains to tell us at least 3 times at this meeting. We nodded our heads meekly. We had prayed for this meeting. As had others. We know in our hearts that Yohan needs parents more than anything - and that whatever our legal status is - we are his spiritual and emotional parents. We hear that every day when he calls us 'Daddy' and 'Mummy.'
And we will now look into the next options. But to start with we have this precious piece of paper telling us that Yohan is legally allowed to be under our care for the next 6 months.
Why worry about tomorrow, each day has enough sorrow of its own is what the Book of books tells us. How true that was for us today. As we waited for the 2.5 hours till our case was heard, we could not help but hear and see young lives so terribly broken (or veering towards such ends). A boy in a ragged poorly patched shirt, being held by an authority figure- telling how his parents had fought and broken glass. Mothers looking blankly, waiting for their turn. A late teen girl sitting silently while her family went through the tasks of getting her custody, lawyers roaming outside. Two nuns with a long list of names - children from their care home who wanted permission to meet their parents over the summer holidays.
We don't know what the future holds - but we know that we are walking in hope. We are also so very grateful for Neeru who was with us and whose wise counsel and experince and humility in dealing with figures of authority was a literal God-send to us.
We are home with the paper. And now the on-going work of restoration in Yohan's life can continue apace.
But finally, and blessedly, this evening we left the authorities with a piece of paper in our hands giving us foster care rights for Yohan for the next 6 months.
We are finally legal. Something that we have been working on for the past 2.5 months. Something to provide an official framework for the miracle that Yohan is to us.
"You are not the parents of this child" is something that the head person on the panel took pains to tell us at least 3 times at this meeting. We nodded our heads meekly. We had prayed for this meeting. As had others. We know in our hearts that Yohan needs parents more than anything - and that whatever our legal status is - we are his spiritual and emotional parents. We hear that every day when he calls us 'Daddy' and 'Mummy.'
And we will now look into the next options. But to start with we have this precious piece of paper telling us that Yohan is legally allowed to be under our care for the next 6 months.
Why worry about tomorrow, each day has enough sorrow of its own is what the Book of books tells us. How true that was for us today. As we waited for the 2.5 hours till our case was heard, we could not help but hear and see young lives so terribly broken (or veering towards such ends). A boy in a ragged poorly patched shirt, being held by an authority figure- telling how his parents had fought and broken glass. Mothers looking blankly, waiting for their turn. A late teen girl sitting silently while her family went through the tasks of getting her custody, lawyers roaming outside. Two nuns with a long list of names - children from their care home who wanted permission to meet their parents over the summer holidays.
We don't know what the future holds - but we know that we are walking in hope. We are also so very grateful for Neeru who was with us and whose wise counsel and experince and humility in dealing with figures of authority was a literal God-send to us.
We are home with the paper. And now the on-going work of restoration in Yohan's life can continue apace.
Hurry!! So glad to hear Yohan has legal parents too
ReplyDelete