Remember back to the days of tests in college? Or how about high school for that matter? I don’t think anyone is the biggest fan of tests, myself included. Maybe you are still in school and you still have to do tests. Or have tests in your job or at home in one way or another.

Although I don’t remember being a fan of those test, I do remember being a fan of those teachers who gave us hints of what was going to be on those tests. You know the ones I’m referring to. Those teachers that “discretely” cleared their throat when telling you a fact or figure to remember. Or how about this, “You REALLY need to know that prophase is the first and longest stage of mitosis.” Or…the ever clever, “hint, hint, wink, wink this will be on the test.” For me being able to know something ahead of time about what was coming made a huge difference on how I worked, prepared and studied for the upcoming exam.

Of course those tests don’t end when we graduate high school and move on to college, or graduate college and move on to life. So what gets us through those tests that life throws at us? What makes us able to get through those “pop quizzes”? What about that exam that we have been studying for but just seems to take a really long time to finish?

Well, guess what? I think we can prepare ahead of time. We can get the occasional hint to help us make sure the outcome is what we need it to be.

Question 1: Am I in control? That one seems easy right now and the answer is a resounding NO. I have over the past few years and through our adoption experience realized that I am nowhere near in control of what will happen and when it will happen. I have had to give that control over to God. I know that there are certain things within my control during the process but the majority of this process is defined by my faith. Hint, hint, wink, wink…this is on the test.

Question 2: Can I be prepared for what is about to come? This one gets a little harder. I think there are a lot of ways that this answer can be yes and a lot of ways this answer can be no. There are times that I think that I am fully prepared to adopt…and an equal number of times that I think I don’t have any of the answers figured out. I know I have an exponential amount of learning to do when it comes to adoption. I do think I can prepare for this test ahead of time…that doesn’t mean it won’t be a difficult test. The phrase “You REALLY need to know this” has already been said to me more than a dozen times when it comes to the journey of adoption. And I know I will be forever grateful to that “teacher”.

Okay…so the questions are getting progressively harder.

Question 3: Am I willing to wait faithfully until it happens? This one might be the hardest question of all. Sometimes my tests take me to places where, honestly, I see no way to work through it. No way for me to conceive a workable solution. When those times happen, when that doubt creeps in, when I feel like putting down my pencil I think to myself, am I willing to wait? This one is hard to get a “heads up” on, or to study for, and certainly no one is clearing their throat trying to give me a heads up. This is one of those questions in life we just need to power through. Are you willing to wait? Am I willing to wait? Wait for that adoption, that child, that right situation. I can tell you that answer is yes, but it isn’t always an easy question to answer. The answer has become obvious but not without a lot of studying and hard work to make it that way.

So the test isn’t over. For any of us. I have tests, you have tests, and we all do of different varieties I’m sure. The test that is happening in my life right now is adoption. So I need to constantly remind myself: I am not in control, I can prepare (but only so much) for what is to come and I AM willing to wait faithfully until it happens. What are the questions on your test? How can you get the “heads up” on what is going to be on the test. I don’t know about you but I would rather be prepared than not.

~Eli