“Adopt” a New Year’s Resolution

Here is a New Year’s Resolution that can’t go wrong. Three years ago, my family decided to sponsor a little boy in Brazil named Adilson. Sponsoring a child is more than just a $20-$30 monthly commitment. It’s not about giving from our abundance to some needy person in a foreign country just to relieve any guilt we might have for being born into a “good life”. Sponsoring a child is about forming a relationship with a child through letters and pictures. In a world full of broken relationships and inconsistencies, a sponsor’s letter can be a glimmer of hope for a child. A letter full of encouragement or a family photo full of smiling faces can make your child feel less alone. It’s like sending a big hug in an envelope.

Adilson is now seven and he likes to play soccer and draw pictures. Several of Adilson’s drawings are hanging on our refrigerator alongside his photo. I thought about posting his picture along with this article, but I’m not sure I can do that without proper permission from the organization. I can only say that Adilson is an adorable kid with big brown eyes and a sweet smile. In almost every letter he sends us, he mentions that he looks forward to hearing from us and he wants us to send more photos. He really loves the pictures of our pug, Quest. Adilson is a dog-lover. Smart kid.

Other Girls Can’t WHAT? Members are also sponsoring children in need. Back in August, Andreya started a fantastic thread called “Girls Can’t Change the World”. In her post, she mentions that she had always wanted to sponsor a child in another country. Andreya is from Slovenia and is now the proud sponsor of a 4 year old boy in Brazil.

As the year winds down and I review my goals for 2007, I have decided to step up my sponsorship a notch. I can’t afford to “adopt” another child, but I am going to work much harder to send more hugs to the child I have been trusted with for now. He’s worth all that and more.

If you are interested in sponsoring a child this year, check out Compassion International and get involved. It’s a New Year’s resolution you won’t regret!