Choose Life. Vote No On G.
Three years ago this month, Tyler and I stood in front of a judge in a crowded courtroom, surrounded by our children, extended family, dear friends, social workers and adoption case workers.
When prompted, we raised our hands in the air and promised to be Mom and Dad to a sweet little boy in foster care, who needed a forever home to call his own.
I still get teary-eyed thinking about that day. There was such joy and happiness in it. The celebration of our Alexander becoming a forever Radke was so beautiful, and it meant so much to see so many people show up to support us, and him, in this moment.
But there was also sadness in the day. Adoption comes with heartache, trauma, and a severed tie that can’t be replaced, erased, or forgotten.
God didn’t intend for brokenness. He didn’t intend for a family to fall apart. He didn’t intend for a mother to be separated from her son. He didn’t intend for a father to not be there for a baby. He didn’t intend for generational traumas, and for life to be so incredibly hard for some, who quite frankly, were dealt a different hand in life that I may never understand.
But what I’ve learned through foster care and adoption is that Jesus is there in the hard and heavy. He sees it all. He can heal broken hearts. He can mend the wounds and take away some of the pain.
He can bring peace, and hope, and joy, and promise for a better tomorrow. He can bring a steadiness in confidence in our steps, when we walk in obedience with Him. He can and does provide, nurture, love, and sustain those who need Him most, if they come to Him in prayer.
And even in the brokenness in this world, He can make all things new.
My faith and resolve have strengthened as our family has stepped into this space to fill the gap. And as I look at our beautiful pastures and fields, where we run our cattle, raise our crops, and run our businesses, I have come to realize that not only is our farm and ranch a great place to pursue our dreams in production agriculture, but it has been the perfect backdrop to love and nurture vulnerable youth in our community.
As the election draws near, life is on the ballot. Extreme abortion measures will be voted on in multiple states, including my home state of South Dakota. If there is one thing I have truly learned and witnessed through our time in foster care and adoption is every single child is precious, worthy, and deserving of a chance at life. I pray we get it right advocating for the most vulnerable among us, the babies who have no voice.
Choose life. Choose hope. Choose humanity. Vote NO on G in November in South Dakota.
