Any new thoughts about how to find/embrace the church and its family? If you're at a supportive church, how did you find it and what do you do to educate them? If you're lost and hiding from the one place you should find acceptance, what would you tell a church that would help you the most?
"Stained Glass Masquerade"
Is there anyone that fails
Is there anyone that falls
Am I the only one in church today feelin' so small
Cause when I take a look around
Everybody seems so strong
I know they'll soon discover
That I don't belong
So I tuck it all away, like everything's okay
If I make them all believe it, maybe I'll believe it too
So with a painted grin, I play the part again
So everyone will see me the way that I see them
Are we happy plastic people
Under shiny plastic steeples
With walls around our weakness
And smiles to hide our pain
But if the invitation's open
To every heart that has been broken
Maybe then we close the curtain
On our stained glass masquerade
Is there anyone who's been there
Are there any hands to raise
Am I the only one who's traded
In the altar for a stage
The performance is convincing
And we know every line by heart
Only when no one is watching
Can we really fall apart
But would it set me free
If I dared to let you see
The truth behind the person
That you imagine me to be
Would your arms be open
Or would you walk away
Would the love of Jesus
Be enough to make you stay
Looking forward to seeing the comments! I'm doing a presentation at Cornerrstone Festival this week on how churches and communities can better suppot adoptive families among them. Still have time to add in anything I have missed! :-)
ReplyDeleteKathleen
Beautiful! I have a post on my blog with this exact song. Must be on the hearts of RAD mama's nationwide. (((hugs))))
ReplyDeleteI have been so blessed to have a supportive church and church-school family. We have always been very active, and we were very open with people about our kids' challenges when they joined our family as foster children. I always figure more information=education=better understanding.
ReplyDeleteWhen we struggled recently with our daughter, we were amazed at how many other parents of kids who go to school with ours told us they were praying for us. We do deal with the "you're a saint" mentality, but I just give God the glory for the wonderful things he's done in our kids' lives.
To be honest, I don't know if we did something special, or if this is just a special group of people. A lot has to do with the pastors' leading. When our kids were baptized at ages 7 & 8, shortly after their finalization (our church practices infant baptism), the pastor tied his sermon into the baptism and "adoption as sons" theme - many tears that day.
Some other moms and I (all parents of kids w/ invisible disabilities) met with a pastor from the larger church body who wants to work on expanding support for families like ours. We encouraged them to make sure the challenges we face are part of the instruction in their teacher and pastoral training programs, so that they develop an understanding of how to incorporate all families into the congregation.