chrishansenhome

Imagine, a single mother in Bangkok, faced with giving up her baby because she can no longer keep him. The gay couple down the street takes an interest, and someone suggests that they adopt the baby. But, while they're at work, who's going to take care of the baby? That's right, birth mum will do it.

This is a really heartwarming story. The couple have now adopted the baby, named "Little" Ricky, and the Thai mum is their nursemaid. They are a happy family. And don't miss the update—Ricky's turned three years old and is cute as a button.

I love stories with happy endings, and this one is bound to go on and on.

For taking up the challenge of raising a little Thai boy and keeping his mother involved, Lee and Rick are my Bricks of the Day (sorry, MadPriest; I'm stealing this idea).

I have heard of similar stories from other parts of the world—a woman is raped or sexually assaulted, and her family wants nothing to do with her, as she is now "damaged goods" or in some way responsible for the monstrous things done to her.

When people from other cultures come to live in the West, we assume that, in time, they will adopt our values of freedom, acceptance of difference, and caring for others (as much as we honour those values, sometimes in the breach rather than in actual practice). Thus, this story of a Liberian family living in Arizona who disowned their eight-year-old daughter after she was raped by four young boys is absolutely the saddest thing I have read this week, perhaps this year.

The fact that people from all over the country (the world, even) have offered to help the girl, or even adopt her cannot disguise the fact that this young girl who has been assaulted in the most horrifying way is now being rejected by the very people who should be comforting and protecting her.

I hope and pray that she will be offered the love, care, and protection that she needs.