Unanswered Questions

"Any family medical history we should know about?"

It was a standard question. It came after asking about allergies and current medications. The medical technician was just doing her job, but after she left the room to get the doctor, it left me thinking about my son.

I was just in for a sinus infection but it's funny how adoption creeps into every area of my life now. I thought about all the times my son will be asked that question in his life and how he probably won't have much of an answer. I've ordered a DNA testing kit for him and hopefully it will shed some light on the shadows of his medical history but there will always be lingering questions.

I'm thankful to take my kids to an orthodontist who has adopted internationally several times. At the bottom of all the of the family medical history options to check off, there is a box that says, "My child is adopted and I have limited medical history." Tears sprang to my eyes the first time I saw that. I felt understood.

The truth is though that each one of us probably has a little list of unanswered questions. One of my favorite MercyMe songs addresses this in a way that floods my heart with peace:

Why?
The question that is never far away
The healing doesn't come from being explained
Jesus please don't let this go in vain
You're all I have
All that remains


When my son hears that question, I pray that it doesn't bring pain. I hope that we raise him to know that none of us has a complete picture of how we ended up where we are but that God is still writing a beautiful story even in the unanswered questions.