If you’ve been my friend on Facebook for the last two years, you’ve undoubtedly seen me share about a boy named Grayson. I met him in 2017 while visiting a Chinese orphanage and fell head over heels in love with him. It’s been two years since he changed my world and I still think of him every single day.

He turned eleven years old this February. I so desperately want it to be his last birthday without a family. He would be such an incredible son, if simply given a chance. I feel it in the depths of my heart. In fact, there have been many, many times when I prayed and asked God if he was mine. The answer has always been clear, but Grayson will forever hold a big piece of my heart.

Sadly, he still waits for his family. I feel compelled to share about him today, on Valentine’s Day. He has an incredibly captivating personality that you can’t help but notice. He has a genuinely sweet smile that absolutely melts my heart. He is a precious boy who loves and cares for his friends at the orphanage, but longs for a family of his own. Grayson wants to be adopted. He hopes for a mama, a baba, and a family dog.

Grayson is such a bright boy. I am so impressed with how much he has learned at the orphanage school! His favorite subject is writing, which is easy to see when you watch him work. His penmanship is remarkable and his zeal for learning is overwhelming. He perfectly repeats every English word he is taught, and comfortably carries on full sentence conversations in Chinese with adults. His charisma is impossible to miss. He sings and recites poems, and he dances to traditional Chinese music. Grayson seems to be on target, or even ahead of his peers, developmentally and educationally.

He is respectful to adults and kind to others. Grayson has an easy-going spirit and happily participates in all activities. He simply delights in being a part of whatever is going on. He is well liked by all of the children, and also very loved and praised by the orphanage staff. In fact, while visiting Grayson’s orphanage, his teacher pulled me aside, pointed to him, and said in English:

“This one. He is a good boy. He deserves a family.”

I want so badly to tell his teacher that he has a family. He is such a special boy and so very deserving of his own family. He’s affectionate and has an indescribable light in his eyes. His heart condition sounds a little overwhelming on paper, but oh my, he would be such a beloved son to a family.

Every interaction I had with him was so positive. I found myself just wanting to be in his presence. He patiently taught me the Chinese words for animals, and sweetly smiled at me when I got them wrong. His joyful personality was so engaging and connecting. While he was sometimes reserved, he was also energetic and happy to run around with the other children. I truly feel that he’ll mold so well into his family. Could you be his?