Amen

This episode can be read a lot of ways, and that's what makes me enjoy it. First, it's a comment about single mothers (the young Lynette whose boyfriend Jerome has not yet married her; and the Hetebrinks who are without men and childless). Second, it's a story about the adoption process and the fact that there are many older children who do not find loving homes. I also found the action to be a comment on the deacon's own experience of parenthood, even though Thelma is relegated to a minor role in this episode. It's too bad that the character of Ricky Hetebrink was not mentioned or featured again. He could've easily come home on leave from the marines, and he could've been shown getting married later, after his career in the military ended. There are a lot of things the writers could've done with him and the Hetebrinks. Also, when Cassietta disappears after the close of the fourth season (due to Barbara Montgomery's job on another sitcom), then it could've been explained that she left to go be with their son.