In honor of orphan sunday, I thought I would document how adoption has already completely changed our family in every way. When we began with this adoption last year, we assumed we knew how the life of our little girl would be forever changed. How she would
gain a brighter future, choices, attention, affection, and unconditional love from us as her family, I guess what I never truly realized is just how much we, as a family adopting, would forever be
changed.
We started this process a year ago (orphan sunday to be exact) last November, and it amazes me how choosing to step out in faith has brought us so much closer to God. Our eyes have been opened to the fact that this life is not all about us!,... Shocker!! There's more to our lives than just what we see. God expects us to actually get out of our comfort zone and Go and Be, to be His hands and feet, and to see the world through His eyes.
We've always been complacant to just go to church(when it was convienent for us), listen to the sermon, be good people, and live our lives for ourselves. We never truly knew what it meant to Go and Be for Him! This adoption, this little girl who lives in an orphange half way around the world, stepping out in faith, has opened our eyes to the fact that we need to be doing more for Him! It would've been so easy to choose to say no to God's plan for our life, and continue on "our plan"....so much easier, so much less heart ache, and so much more comfortable for us...but I'm so glad we didn't. I've never felt God closer to me than I have this year. This verse has come to life for us this year..
"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." (James 4:8)
Maybe it's because when going through a process such as adoption, we have ZERO control. Faith is what gets you through. In this process, you get to see how there is no other explanation, other than God's hand being involved in every single detail, every step of the way. We've had our fair share of "coincidences" this year, and it's not just another coincidence that we have grown closer to God, as a family. We've never had the courage, until now, to hand over everything to him....our worries, plans, time, and even finances, with complete trust, but it feels so good to let go and know He's in control. We've never been as committed to stepping out in other ways, and helping others in need, as we are now.
It's crazy for me to think that at 37 years old, I'm just now realizing that each of us have been given a special gift to use for His glory. It's whether or not we choose to use it.
I've always, as far as back as I can remember, been extremely empathetic for people and animals in need. I've volunteered in animal shelters and rescued my fair share of homeless and abused animals, and now realize that He gave me this gift of empathy, so that I could nurture it and let it grow, to one day adopt one of His children....His ultimate plan.
Our family is far from where we need to be, but I know that God is not done with us. This is His story and I know that this is only the beginning of what He has planned for us. We are here for a such a short time in the grand scheme of things, and I want us to do all that He wants us to do in the that time. I'm not saying we are or aren't going to adopt again, but I am praying that our hearts are left wide open to do whatever it is that God has planned for us....adopting or otherwise.
Today is Orphan Sunday, and I hope that many more people feel the call to adopt the way we did last year. 145 million orphans in the world seems like an overwhelming number, and what difference does just one child make? It makes all the difference to the life of that one child, and the rippling affect of that one adoption leads to so many more...that's the amazing part. He says He will not leave them as orphans and he will come for them, and He has ....WE are His answer to the orphans. It IS an overwhelming number, but we can make a difference. I'm so thankful that he broke our heart for what breaks His.
Little does this baby girl know how she has blessed us
before she even got here. Little does she know
the lives that she's already touched, not just our family, but everyone who has even heard about her. She's so special and I
can only imagine the gifts that He's given her.
God knew from the
beginning that we would need each other, and I feel so honored and blessed that He chose us to raise this
special girl.
Proverbs 24:12 "Once our eyes are opened we cannot pretend we do not know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls knows we know and holds us responsible to act."
Click on this video of families that have adopted in our church family. Love it!
Adoption Video