Adopted

I've been blessed to be able to walk through the adoption journey with some friends for the past year...and living life with them for two years.  Their journey to adoption is one filled with pain, anger, sorrow, sadness, grief, joy and peace.

When my friend called me to let me know they'd been selected to parent a little boy who had been born the day before, I literally burst into tears.  I'm not going to share their back story, but their adoption story was like many others I hear about - a couple wanted a baby and was unable to carry a baby.  They had already been blessed with a child, but having a second baby was more of a challenge - one that would lead them down the adoption journey.

And as I was praying joyfully for this great news, it hit me: I'm adopted. We are all adopted. Adopted by our heavenly Father and my prayers rose up in appreciation of my own adoption. Much like the little boy who was embraced with love that burst from his adopted parents, God's heart bursts with love when we accept Him.  Jessi and Charles didn't care about the gender or ethnicity of their baby - it didn't matter one iota to them.  God literally reached down and chose their baby and when I see images of them holding their son, I can tell that he is their son!  Molded in God's image and placed in their arms. God isn't concerned with our history, color, gender, or ancestry.  He doesn't worry if our hair is short or long or grey or falling out.  But He knows the number of hairs on our heads and He wants to know you intimately.  He is standing with open arms, waiting for you to accept Him.  And the loving embrace?  It pales in comparison to my friends' who are clinging to their new son.  Believe it or not, God loves their baby more than they ever could.  Craig tells me that all the time - that God loves our children more than we ever could.  So much, that He gave His son for you and me.  And you know what? He loves Jesus like we love our children...yet He gave him up for us.  For Jessi and Charles.  For their son.  For me, for Craig, for Madeline and Gabe. For you.

There's a whole lot more to the Bible, believe me, but the above message is the most important one. 

I don't talk about the Bible much on the blog, but my heart is swelled with happiness for my friends.  For all my friends who have gone through the adoption journey or are still going through it. 

And if you would, please pray for the birth parents.  Such a selfless act of love on their part.  I pray they know of their own adoption...just like I pray you know of your own adoption..