Sitting anxiously, waiting for the finalization of the long-awaited adoption process, a voice from the court seating area spoke up. It was Dayshawn! He had melted into the background while at the same time having been the center of attention in the whole room. All eyes were on him now.
The judge asked if all agree that the adoption goes forward, and Dayshawn responded, “Yeah, they all love us.” People were shocked! His answer made them smile, laugh, and even tear up. But he was not finished. What he said next had the entire courtroom in a flush of emotions.
An Emotional Day in Court
With so much anticipation for this day, it’s no surprise that the couple was filled with emotion. The long wait yielded this final day, and they both fought off tears of joy and relief. Both Sara and Stuart had waited years, if not their whole lives, for this day.
On top of that, an unexpected event prompted Sara to break into sobs, right in the middle of the courtroom. There was no way to prepare for this! But in the end, coming from Dayshawn, it was just as she expected. Just as the judge was contemplating their decision, Dayshawn took the opportunity to make his voice heard.
Dayshawn Speaks
Dayshawn and Michael had been sitting quietly in the courtroom, the entire time, only talking when they had been addressed. They were understandably stressed out and nervous. They knew exactly what verdict they wanted from the judge. In the midst of the adoption hearing, Dayshawn had something to say. Everyone heard his response.
The judge was asking, “You think they all agree that this adoption ought to go forward?” Everyone was silent but quietly optimistic that things would go their way. At this vital moment, when Sara and Stuart were waiting eagerly to hear the announcement, something else happened instead.
The Speech
Dayshawn’s reply to the judge caused many people to laugh, however, he also touched as many hearts with a few more words. In a few sentences, Dayshawn captured the hearts of everyone in the courtroom, and all those who heard after, by articulating perfectly just how much his new family meant to him and his brother, Michael.
He piped up once more, and said, “We love them. Our whole family is the best thing we ever had. I’m glad to have these people in my life. I’m glad to be their son. They’re the best thing I ever had.” He told the judge the precise reason he wanted to be adopted, and there was hardly a dry eye.
The Reaction
Sara burst into tears. Her newly adopted son articulated exactly why he and his brother should be adopted, and he said it right in front of the judge. It made her think about all they had given the boys thus far, and why they loved them so much. She had given them the best thing they ever had in their young lives, a family.
The expression of gratitude touched Stuart too. As foster parents, they felt redeemed, blessed, and confident in their new role as official parents. Obviously, the judge had no cause for concern and immediately granted Sara and Stuart custody of the two boys as their official sons. They celebrated the day with a ride home in a chauffeured limo.