I just finished reading a very difficult book entitled Message from an Unknown Chinese Mother by Xinran.
This is a book about you, precious First Mama.
It is a book about your love for your daughter.
It is a book about the heart wrenching decision you were confronted with that no mother should ever have to face.
It is a book about the hole that will remain in your heart for the rest of your days on this earth.
My focus through out this entire adoption experience has been where it should be; on the well being of our daughter, yours and mine.
Our little one has suffered great loss.
She has experienced the unfathomable experience of abandonment.
There is a hole in her heart; pieces missing that she will question and try to make peace with.
I want you to know that after reading this book, I have a much greater appreciation for you.
I have always prayed for you, always.
When I rock our daughter to sleep at night, I think of you.
I think of you and the last time you were able to hold this little girl in your arms, stroking her soft cheeks and rubbing her little head; knowing what path you were about to walk down.
I ache for you.
I am angry that we live in such a fallen world that a mother and father are forced to leave their child, abandoned and alone, on the front steps of a Social Welfare Institute, because they had no other choice.
I will never know all the details that led you to make this painful decision, but I know that you were backed into a corner. I know there was no other viable option.
Our daughter was so very ill.
Your selfless act of courage
Saved. Her. Life.
Do you know that First Mama?
Your selfless act of courage
Saved. Her. Life.
Our daughter, yours and mine,
is alive today because you were able to let go.
I want you to know that I do not overlook the enormity of the sacrifice you made on behalf of our daughter whom you carried for 9 months and cared for for the first year of her life.
You will ALWAYS hold a very special and honored position in our family,
for we see you and are with you every day.
Our daughter is amazing!
I often wonder if you were this beautiful when you were four years old!
I know you are so smart!
I see it in every puzzle she completes, in every letter she writes, in every story we read.
I know you are kind.
I see it in the way her eyes grow pensive and concerned when she hears another cry; in the way she knows just the right time to tell me she loves me and gives me a sweet hug and kiss.
I know you are funny!!!
Oh my, is she funny! She brings a joy to our home that is immeasurable!
I know you have a VERY. Strong. Will.
You are a survivor.
Our daughter is a fighter and a survivor too.
I want you to know that our daughter knows she has three mamas:
First Mama,
China Mama who took care of her in the orphanage
and
Me, Forever Mama.
When she is old enough, when she starts asking "Why",
I know without a doubt that I will be able to tell her that you love her with all your heart.
I will be able to tell her that you loved her so much that you chose life for her, not once, but twice.
Know, that we are praying for you.
We pray that some how, some way, you learn about Jesus Christ and just how much He loves you and gave everything up for YOU.
He knows your heartache very well, First Mama, very well.
Oh we pray you know Him.
We pray that He binds up the gaping hole that was ripped into your heart the day you said good bye to our little girl.
Oh China Mama, He can and He will.
He is in the business of restoring what the locusts have eaten.
He will heal your broken heart,
and one day...
One day, we will hug your neck in heaven.
I pray this over you every day.
You are precious and you are so very loved.
Know we love your treasured gift more than life itself.
Until we meet someday,

















11 comments:
This is the most beautiful post! While I still haven't held my to be daughter yet, I wonder about her mama. Was this her first child, second, or third. Did she abandon her because she was a girl or because of her SN. Was she even married. Were her grandparents sad the day she was abandoned. One thing I know is it wasn't easy for CHina mama. How could it have been because as a mother I know my heart would have broken into a gazillion pieces.
It's easy to forget first mamas in the busyness of everyday life. But they're meant to be remembered more than just on days when we send a lantern or balloon up into the sky with our thoughts of them. Thanks for the reminder.
Oh my all these images are beautiful but I love the last one. She is so adorable
Mollyxxx
I saw the link to this post on a friends FB page and immediately recognized the beautiful face of the little girl at the ballpark. This post is so beautifully written and I thank you for sharing it. I will never again look at adoption the same. You've helped me see things from the perspective of the "first Mama" that gave up so much. -Elizabeth (Corbin's mom)
What a beautiful post in every way. Tears are running down my face.
I think of my future daughter's birth mother all the time. We were blessed with a surprise pregnancy during the wait and having our little boy makes my heart ache all the more for the woman who is going to give us this beautiful gift of life. Thank you for putting into words what so many of us feel.
This is so beautiful. Both writing and photos. Thank you<3
Kelly, I read this just now and just cried. Beautifully written and my heart aches for this first mama. What a horrid choice to have to make, but if ever I had to save Lily's life, I would. It must feel like the first mama died a thousand deaths to give sweet Kate a life. I can't imagine the pain. You are a beautiful person and I pray that Kate's first mama will meet her in Heaven one day and get all the hugs and kisses in that she missed out on. Becki
WOW Kelly...... Amazingly beautiful..... Thank you for sharing! I have many adoptive family friends, and I just love how beautifully you share your heart, and speak for adoptive mamas everywhere!
I love the way you shared your heart so beautifully. I pray China Mom knows Jesus too and that her heals her broken heart. Thank you for such a poignant musing and opening of the eyes of our hearts.
I tried to read this out loud to my mother. I couldn't. Thank you Kelly...for this post and your love and prayers over my family.
This post was amazingly beautiful!! I can relate to each thing you said as we have an adopted almost 4 year old we brought home from China in mid-Sept. I'm writing to ask permission to use your words (w/ you as author of course) on my blog and insert my daughter's pictures. I think it's a profound way for other's to look at First Mama's perhaps in a difft. light.
If I may have permission to use on my blog (www.ourredthread.blogspot.com) will you please e-mail me at kimzim@dejazzd.com
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