“You’re gonna have to tell people you adopted these boys, because to look at them, you would never know.” These words expressed by a judge after the adoption hearing of two former residents of Miracle Hill Children’s Home. Bradley and William came to the children’s home from a home where domestic violence and parental drug use were the norm. Both children were craving affection from staff and teachers at school. They loved their birth family and hoped to one day return home. The longer they remained in foster care, Bradley became more and more angry. Questions ran through his mind. Why can’t I go home? Why did my parent’s stop visiting me? What did I do wrong? How can I fix this? These are questions that a young boy cannot answer, which added to his frustration. Bradley was determined to be the good big brother, but then became angry at himself, and sometimes his brother, when things would not go the way he planned or wanted. Like most children in foster care, Bradley thought he had to figure what was going to happen to him. He always knew that adoption was a possibility, but how would he find a family that would love him and take care of him.
Bradley had been taught the promises found in Jeremiah 29:11, but he could not see the plans the Lord had for him. He did not know that his little brother’s teacher had fallen in love with them both and would soon become their mom. Whitney Morris instantly fell in love with William and told her husband about the two boys she had come to know through her work. Whitney has worked with other children in foster care before, but never was compelled, by the Lord, to apply to adopt. After all, she and her husband’s two teenage children would be leaving for college in a few years and adopting now would mean starting over. The Sunday before they made their decision to adopt, their pastor preached a message on adoption and they clearly heard the Lord speaking through this message. Whitney and her husband, Johnny, began the foster to adopt process. Whitney recalls, “We looked at our family photo and knew that it was not complete.”
Whitney admits that she struggled throughout the process and freely says this is the hardest thing they have ever done. Bradley’s anger and behavior problems worsened as the time drew near for him to say goodbye to his biological family. The process was very stressful and it began to affect Whitney’s health. Whitney began to question whether or not she could be the mom that both boys needed. She spoke to her husband and although he believed they were supposed to become the forever family for these two precious boys, he could not dismiss her health concerns.
Whitney and Johnny earnestly prayed for clear direction from the Lord. One day Whitney looked at her husband and said, if these were our biological children we would not give them up on them, so why are we even considering this”. The Lord gave them peace to adopt the boys, “No matter what!” This decision was a turning point in their lives. Bradley and William decided they wanted to draw up their own adoption agreement. They knew their mom and dad had to sign one for the judge, but they also wanted to sign something as a way of committing to their new family. Both boys worked together to create the document and proudly signed with their new last names.
The Morris family now has become an official family of six. Their oldest children, Brittany and Matthew, have loved being older siblings to Bradley and William. Both boys are still adjusting to their new lives, but they are safe, happy, and loved…no matter what!
** This story has been written with the assistance of the adoptive family; however, due the laws concerning confidentiality and safety of the children, their names have been changed. Despite these minor changes, the story is true and represents another demonstration of the Lord creatively putting families together for His glory!
