PARENTING June 24, 2002 Issue

Adopting a brother

By Shepard Collins

I'VE ALWAYS ENJOYED WORKING WITH CHILDREN , playing with children, being with children. The innocence, vigor, ingenuity, and spontaneity that they express are exhilarating and heartwarming. It's difficult to see those qualities discouraged or squelched by parents, a repressive community atmosphere, or societal prejudice.

This fueled a desire in me to help children in need of encouragement and support. Praying for the world's children and getting a better understanding of God as the one Father and Mother of us all were steps toward a decision I made that has brought me great joy.

When I discovered Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America, a mentoring organization that seeks adults who are willing to spend time every week with a child living without a father or a mother, the idea appealed to me immediately. I volunteered. The interview process was extensive. After several weeks, I was contacted about a potential match. When the call came, I felt like an expectant father.

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