But that quiet voice kept whispering but I kept turning down the volume. Then by chance we had two separate encounters with friends about adoption. We loved the thought of adoption but quickly discovered that the cost of adoption really meant this was not an option for us...at least not right now. So I continued on...being the world's best aunt! Then God revealed to us the idea of foster care and adoption. Less expensive but there was just one catch...Not all the children I would love could be mine forever.
STOP! Wait a minute! Hold the train!
You mean I would be expected to love a child unconditionally from the minute I meet them and pour all my time and energy into this child to have them leave and never return. To pour out kindness and gentleness to only have them potentially disappear. And God answered Yes! And we jumped in with both feet! We literally decided in less than a week and started our training in November. We finished in record time and were licensed in December.
Now most parents have 9 months to prepare and wrap their minds around the idea of a newborn. We were called on December 21st and asked to take in not 1 but 2 infants. We rushed to Target to get all those newborn essentials! And by 8pm THAT day we had our first baby! Whew it was the best pregnancy, labor, and delivery EVER!! We only ended up with one newborn...just 4 days old. An absolutely precious baby girl. What happened over the next 4 months was a whirlwind and honestly a blur. We went from 0 kids in the house to 6 all under the age of 6 years old in a matter of 4 months. (Each pregnancy, labor, and delivery was just as easy as the first one! Ha!)
It was crazy. It was hectic. It was hard ....much harder than I imagined but it felt right. When we took the step of faith to become foster parents, we felt as if we were home. You know the feeling you have when you return to your childhood home. The comfort. The security. The love. I felt all of that as I stepped into the uncertainty of foster care. How you might ask? Only because of Jesus. Only could my comfort, security, and overwhelming love for those we had not yet met or just met come from Jesus. I cannot take any credit this time. I know it sounds completely absurd but a peace was with us as we stepped onto that roller coaster.
If you look at our lives adoption should hold a special place in all Christians hearts. We have all been adopted by Christ. Brought into His family. We are now HIS children. Just let that sink in for a minute.
Broken. Empty. Hurting. Unable to accept His love completely. But God loved us...loves us.
While we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son. Romans 5:10
We were not the cute bundle of joy that I received on December 21st. Yet he chose to adopt us. He chose us. He chose. This was not about us. You. Me. This is about God. His incomprehensible love for us.
In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ,
according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace. Ephesians 1:4-6
God's perfect plan always included the adoption into his family. Not everyone is adopted into this royal family. Only those who believe in Jesus Christ and his sacrifice are adopted.
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman,
born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we
might receive adoption as sons. Galatians 4:4-5
I adopted. I am adopted. Both possible through God's love. Both are for his glory not ours.
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you
have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom
we cry, "Abba! Father!" Romans 8:15
With Orphan Sunday on November 2 I wanted to share with you the impact of adoption and foster care can have on our lives and those around us!1. All we do is for God's glory! So before you step out there and think this is for you really consider what you are doing. This is not a phase you can outgrow. This is real life. Hard. Complicated. Real life. Once you adopt a child there is no going back. And honestly if you choose to foster you should have the same mind set. You can't simply "send them back" when it doesn't work out. But with the attitude that all we do his for God's glory your perspective and motivation changes.
2. The goal is not to receive praise for your actions. This goes along with everything is for God's glory. But is you are thinking you will get accolades and pats no the back. Think again. You will get stared at. Talked about. Ridiculed. People may even think you have lost your mind. When times get tough you may hear "well what did you expect adopting THOSE kids." But take heart, you do not perform for the world, you honor God with your life!
3. You can provide a tangible way for others to see mercy and grace in action. Over the years we have had struggles. We did our best to protect our children's personal struggles but when appropriate and with discretion we shared. We were able to express how we repaid those terrible actions of the kids with grace. How we extended forgiveness for the 100th time this week. So those around us heard a living story of mercy and grace. And even better than that, our children saw this every day. Do you know how awesome this is? To be able to love unconditionally. To be a real life example of love. To in some way help model Jesus in the lives of our kids.
4. Rely on God for sufficiency. Adoption is hard. It is full of heartaches and disappointments but when the decision is based on how will then glorify God. If our decision to adopt is rooted in bringing glory to God, he will provide for your every need. In the middle of madness he will be there every step of the way. He will cover your inadequacies, provide words when you are at loss, and a never ending supply of love, grace, and mercy will be made available to you.
So maybe you are just not ready to take that step. I want to urge each of you to prayerfully consider how you can support orphans and adoptive families you know.
1. Be sensitive. You will not know the entire story since families protect the children and their struggles. But God knows every detail so pray that God makes himself known and felt to the family and children.
2. Build bridges. Adoptive and foster parents can easily build a wall to separate them from the outside world. Some days it is easier to live behind the wall than face the world. Reach out. Call. Connect.
3. Love with open arms. One of my biggest fears when fostering and during initial days after adoption was "Will they love this child as I do?" I made a decision to love based on a command I heard from God but what about others who haven't heard this command? So one of the greatest comforts was when my children...my Family....our life was welcomed with open arms. Never made to feel odd or strange. We were us and that was okay! No need to hear of the details but willing to openly love our family.
4. Financial support. Many families who have a heart for adoption are seeking financial support to make this a reality. Organization across the country provide for both orphans here in the US and world wide. Give and give generously.
So after 7 years we had settled in with 6 kiddos and thought we were done...well at least for now. And then one more child was welcomed into our home. To complete our family of 9!! We adopted 7 blessing from the Lord. All who grew in my heart years before I knew they would be mine. All I loved before I knew 100% they would be adopted! I would love to tell you we live a storybook life but we don't. We have had our fair share of struggles but I have learned that life is not about me and my desires Growing Up on Dublin Lane.
Please watch the video provided by Christian Alliance for Orphans. Comment below your experiences with foster or adoptive parents. Share your prayer requests if you are starting this journey! I would love to hear how others are impacting the world for God.
Orphan Sunday 2014 from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.
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