Upon meeting the Jacksons, you quickly learn their unconditional love for their son. Bruk was born in Ethiopia, and Drew and Cassie were finally able to bring him home when he was 14 months old. I say “finally” because the Jacksons knew for a very long time they wanted to adopt. In fact, they knew they’d adopt long before they even knew each other’s names.
“We both had strong feelings about adoption even before we got married – we didn’t need to wait for the other person to come around to our way of thinking,” Drew shared.
Adopting a child from Ethiopia meant many hurdles for the Jackson family. Travel to and from the country for required court dates was an added expense, and it would have been easy for even the most optimistic of families to lose hope.
“We were reminded of God’s provision,” the Jacksons shared. “He has never left us without and this adoption was a magnification of that truth.”
As with many couples, the Jacksons were brought closer together during the adoption process. Their relationship grew stronger as they navigated the tumultuous journey of bringing their son home.
“We had to trust God together and be patient with each other on the hard days more than we ever have in our marriage,” they shared. This was especially important that first time they visited Ethiopia, met and bonded with their son, and then had to make the difficult journey home without him as they awaited their next court date. “We didn’t realize that it would physically hurt,” she said.
It was in those moments of pain that the Jacksons leaned into God’s Word. It was a supernatural encouragement during their moments of longing and hopelessness. It was in God’s Word that they re-learned the story of adoption, not only for their son but for themselves.
“We learned about the amazing parallel between us adopting Bruk and God’s infinite love and mercy to adopt undeserving people like us into his family forever.”
Show Hope became a pivotal piece in their son’s adoption. While money came in from family and friends, it was Show Hope’s contribution that sealed the deal of their adoption becoming a reality. They received an adoption aid grant from Show Hope, and were blessed shortly thereafter when they were chosen as a featured family in Show Hope’s ”I Heart Adoption” Facebook promotion. As friends, family, and people they had never met banded together to “like” and share their story, the Jacksons were able to secure the final funding needed to bring their son home.
“The grant from Show Hope was a beautiful chapter in the story of God’s provision for the adoption of our son.”
As many families know too well, the adoption process is long and hard. It’s oftentimes lonely, but as the Jacksons can attest, it’s well worth the wait.
“It’s sometimes hard to trust that God’s timing is benevolent,” they shared. “But when the waiting is over, we get to look back and praise him for what He has done.”
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