I was at lunch today with one of my friends. We were eating at a popular pizza place that is REALLY inexpensive, so lots of families go there.

A black couple walks in with 5 white children. It was OBVIOUS, of course, that they were either foster or adoptive children. I never approached them to ask, though, so we'll just say it was ASSUMED that these children were foster or adoptive children.

Anyway, my friend saw them come in as well, and I made the comment, VERY quietly, that I bet that they were either foster or adoptive children.

Next thing you know, quietly, thank GOODNESS, my friend goes on this tirade about how horrible that is, that those people are only doing it for the money, and that she hopes Karma comes back on them.

As I collected my long since dropped jaw off of my plate, I asked her "What makes you say that?". She said "Black people have no right raising white people. Those kids are probably SO hated in their family, and you know that they're only doing it for money because you KNOW that black people don't like white people, much less would want to raise them."

So, I pick up my jaw again, this time along with pushing my heart back down my throat. I sat there, collected my thoughts, took a deep breath, and then I swear it was like I was channeling something...

"XXXX...I cannot believe how you would EVEN think that? You do remember I am going to be adopting, too? Do you think I'm secretly adopting for money? What if we take in a black child? Do you think I have a right to do that? NOT ALL black people, well, I've NEVER met a black person that HATES white people, so where is that coming from?"

...she tried to explain, and without letting her, the last item came out of my mouth...

"Let me tell you this honey. Those people are THERE for those 5 children, when others either wouldn't/couldn't/shouldn't. I admire them, if they are foster or adoptive parents to those children and not like a caregiver or a church group that we've mistaken for a foster or adoptive family, to go beyond their culture. Those children must really know love, and they sure didn't before."

Then her jaw dropped. She did not realize that she had an apparent problem with this, and we ended up taking the rest of our lunch time talking about it, and what we felt we should learn from it.

Yep, the unexpected always happens.

Until Tonight,
Storm