Christine Rhyner Christine RhynerSitting in my new home, watching the sun rise over the marsh. It really is a nice view from my desk here by the front window.
It’s all over—the closing, the hauling of car load after car load of “stuff” to the new house. And I was mistaken. The new owner of our old house is Chinese but his wife is Costa Rican and fluent in English, Spanish and Chinese. How’s that for international flair! They have two babies and an eleven year-old.
The grief I have felt over the last few weeks has been unlike anything I’ve experienced short of my failed attempts at conception. The loss, the failure to maintain our home and the constant struggle to get by have all taken their toll. I feel spent--physically, emotionally, spiritually and every other which way.
As I’ve said good-bye to neighbors they’ve said some pretty strange things.
“I’m sorry you “have” to move.” How did they come to that assumption?
Or, “Well, you know you didn’t work. Your husband let you do whatever you wanted.” What does that mean?
Just as I’ve written in my upcoming book on forgiving words that hurt you and your adopted kids, I must forgive neighbors and others for hurtful comments. Just as I must forgive the father of a friend of my son who came by and commented on how much smaller this place is and how we have no pool now and wondered how much we are paying to live here.
I grieve daily. I want to go home. I am surrounded by boxes and clutter and furniture that has no place to sit and I feel exhausted and overwhelmed. My tears flow and try as I might to keep them private, my children have seen or heard me cry. They are stronger than I.
But I am aware of God’s great mercy and blessings, just as I was when He led us down the adoption path.
In her book, “A Time to Grieve, How to Get a Grip and Move on,” Carol L. Fitzpatrick says, “Where is (Jesus) during this tumultuous array of emotions?
Right there beside you, with His arms outstretched, saying, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and YOU SHALL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.” (Matthew 11:28-30).
I plan to spend some time with this book that offers help and hope from the Bible for grief—because grief is a terrible emotion. When mixed with isolation it can be deadly. That’s why it’s so important to find others who can help whether one grieves the loss of a house, a lifestyle, fertility, a baby or adoption plan.
Whatever Their World View, No, The Kids Are Not Alright, Part 1
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Day of Mourning, Day of Shame
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1/22/2022
God's Presence With Wings
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6/18/2021
The Church Needs to Unify in the Battle For Right to Life
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Our Sixty-Year Decline
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H.R. 1 Would Be A Bigger Test For The Church Than Covid Shutdowns {Part 2 of 2}
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H.R. 1 Would Be A Bigger Test For The Church Than Covid Shutdowns {Part 1 of 2}
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Dangers of Love Growing Cold
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Democrats' Despicable, Advantageous Use of the Elderly
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America, Land of Condemnation (Part Three)
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4/15/2021
America, Land of Condemnation (Part Two)
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4/6/2021
America, Land of Condemnation (Part One)
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3/24/2021
Government's Desperate Need for Humility
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3/11/2021
Is the Church Changing?
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1/19/2020
What Are Our Values Anymore?
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11/22/2019
The Final Frontier (Part Two)
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9/4/2019
The Final Frontier (Part One)
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7/29/2019
Soulmate
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4/30/2019
The Colors of a Writer
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12/29/2018
What's Not to Get About the Writing Life?
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4/18/2018
Learning to Sing the Song of Winter
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12/10/2017
Perspectives & the Second Half of the 10 Commandments of Conflict
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8/25/2017
Perspectives & 5 of the 10 Commandments of Conflict
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5/2/2017
Run Writer Run! Make Music with Your Words
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2/15/2017
Mom, the Fishstetrician
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10/14/2016
The CONSTITUTION For President
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6/5/2016
The Radicalization of Hillary and the Democrat Party (PART 2 OF 2)
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4/16/2016
The Radicalization of Hillary and the Democrat Party (PART 1 OF 2)
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4/15/2016
Why Ted Cruz NOW?
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3/19/2016
Why is the GOP Committing Suicide?
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3/14/2016
Dear Chicago
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3/12/2016
Does God Give Us More Than We Can Handle?
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2/29/2016
That Unanswered GOP Debate Question
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1/9/2016
America's Lifeline
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12/31/2015
Fractured Nation (2 of 2)
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11/14/2015
Fractured Nation (1 of 2)
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11/11/2015
What is Orphan Sunday?
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11/8/2015
November's Gratitude and Longing
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11/4/2015
Losing a Child is Like...
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9/12/2015
Finding God in a Tenement
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9/3/2015
Doing School in the 21st Century
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8/22/2015
Superstition vs. Planned Parenthood
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8/19/2015
Addicted to Giving Birth?
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4/21/2015
Why We Should Have "The Talk" Before Marriage
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3/20/2015
Adoptive Parents "Hypersensitive" & "Selfish?"
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3/12/2015
What's So Wrong With Calling It "Gotcha Day!"
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2/26/2015
How God Connected the Dots
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2/7/2015
Exposure of Transracially Adopted Kids to Their Races a Bad Thing?
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2/2/2015
Out With The Old
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1/12/2015
Those Who Scoff at International Adoption
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8/16/2014
Setting Aside Birth Story Facts for Truth
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7/31/2014
Sneak Peak, "How much did you pay for her?"
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6/11/2014
Blessing Through Adoption Pain
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5/16/2014
Eight Ways Publishing Your Book is Like an Adoption Journey
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2/23/2014
Neglected Ministries?
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2/17/2014
It's a Boy
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2/8/2014
Thoughts of Her
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2/1/2014
To My Son
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1/30/2014
Rational Thinking?
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1/25/2014
Minority Against Minority
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1/12/2014
Happy New Year!
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12/30/2013
Happy Thanksgiving
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11/25/2013
You ARE my mother?
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11/10/2013
The Transracially Adopted Children's Bill of Rights and Some Thoughts
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11/3/2013
Infertility Is...
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10/19/2013
Will He Speak English?
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10/11/2013
Kitty-Sam
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10/5/2013
What's in a Name?
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9/30/2013
An Adoptive Mom's Message to Those in the Healthcare and Education Professions
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9/25/2013
Being Tested
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9/11/2013
When We Are Weary
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9/1/2013
Trailblazers
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8/24/2013
A Fresh Start
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8/22/2013
God Works Behind the Scenes
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8/13/2013
Why Adoption Requires Forgiveness
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7/28/2013
Dust Bunnies and Poo
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7/19/2013
Reality Check
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7/13/2013
Forgiveness is Work
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7/9/2013
An Answer to Prayer, Part Three
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7/3/2013
An Answer to Prayer, Part Two
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6/27/2013
An Answer to Prayer, Part One
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6/22/2013
Are They Really Brother and Sister?
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6/16/2013
Infertility's Not Fair
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6/13/2013
Has He Ever Eaten a Dog?
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6/11/2013
Sometimes We Fail
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6/9/2013
