Why Rachel?
Many people ask us why we chose to name the foundation "Rachel." Most assume that we named it after one of our children. While Bob does have a daughter named Rachel, she is not the origin of the foundation’s name.
There was a time many years ago when Pamela was struggling to keep her children. They had been severely alienated, and she was in the midst of a prolonged court battle. These were the times when reunifications were clumsy and professionals deemed reintegration all but impossible. (Actually, things haven’t yet changed that much, which is why we’re here!)
The day came when a psychologist advised Pamela that her situation was hopeless and that she would be better off by far to just put the whole matter behind her and get on with her life.
Pamela was devastated. She tried to imagine life without her children, but couldn’t. Surely, she felt, God has abandoned me. Before giving up completely, though, she reached for her Bible to check in with God one last time.
Quite by accident, the Bible fell open to the passage from Jeremiah that says: "A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping. It is the sound of Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted because her children are no more."
Pamela threw the Bible aside and fell to the floor weeping. But a tiny inner voice spoke softly, urging her to read on. "Not likely," she said. "Enough! I’ve had it!"
Once again the voice spoke, a little more insistently, "Read on." This time Pamela had the perfect excuse. "I’ve closed the Bible," she said. "I have no idea where I read those words. I could never find them again!"
Nevertheless, Pamela picked herself up from the floor, retrieved the Bible and reluctantly let it fall open again. Incredibly, it opened to the very same page and Pamela read on, transfixed.
‘Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears,’ she read, ‘for the Lord is pleased with the work you will do. ‘They will return from the land of the enemy, so there is hope for your future,’ declares the Lord. ‘Your children will return to their own land..’
Says Pamela, "As I read those words, my life and my future were transformed. At that moment I claimed those words as God’s promise to me. A new energy born of hope filled my heart, and I resolved never, ever to give up on loving my children."
From that beginning, Pamela started a journey that continues to this day. She finished her court battles, winning a landmark decision and successfully reintegrating with her children. She started working with others who contacted her, having learned of her story through the media. She founded a self-help group and started to envision and develop solutions, practical, workable, affordable reintegration solutions based on her own and others experiences.
Pamela and Bob registered the http://www.rachelfoundation.org/ domain name on September 12, 2000. Incorporation followed on October 6, 2000. And every day since has been the experience of bringing Rachel’s promise, Rachel’s message of hope, to families torn apart by abduction and alienation.
So when it came time to name the Foundation – was there even a choice?
Copyright © 2003 The Rachel Foundation