According to a recent CNN article, a five-year-old boy’s entire kindergarten class showed up for his adoption hearing in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The class sat behind their classmate, Michael, waving big red hearts mounted on wooden sticks to show their support.

Michael’s adoptive father said his favorite part was when the judge asked everyone present to explain what Michael means to them. They offered the most touching answers such as “I love Michael” or “Michael’s my best friend." The judge commented that it was the first time she’d ever hosted a whole kindergarten class in her courtroom.

Michael’s mother said her new son’s teacher, Mrs. McKee, came up with the idea. Mrs. McKee knew the adoption would be finalized soon, and the two women agreed on how to make the big day special for Michael. Mrs. McKee then organized the whole class outing, including procuring a school bus, and thus gave her students a field trip to remember.

Michael’s new father and mother had been married for ten years, and Michael had been living with them as a foster child since the previous Thanksgiving. The father said, “We didn’t have any kids prior to that, and things got pretty chaotic in a hurry.” The proud parents said their charismatic son loves to dance, swim, and to play basketball and soccer. They are amazed at how many friends he has, and his father also recognizes that one of the most beautiful parts of the last year has been the many children who welcomed Michael into their homes and on play dates.

This story touches my heart. When I was a child and lived in a small town, I was not aware of any children being adopted. Consequently, it wasn’t until I attended college that I experienced and discovered the frequency of this occurrence. There are so many children out there who need loving homes. Dear readers, if you have been adopted or know of children who were—and people who have adopted—sharing about such an experience (whether favorable or unfavorable) would be greatly appreciated.