Brace yourself, because I have a question:
Have you ever prayed about adopting?
November is Adoption Awareness Month, and maybe, just maybe, the Lord is nudging you.
But you might have some questions of your own:
What if I don't have what it takes? What if I mess up my entire family? What if I love my adoptive and birth children differently?
My guess is that these issues are at the heart of our hesitancy. More so than money. More so than logistics.
But what if it wasn't all on our shoulders? What if it wasn't about our perfect parenting abilities? And what if we had the freedom to love each child differently?
Because the truth is...
1) It doesn't depend on us.
God's grace is poured out when we obey. He'll enable us. Just keep in mind, we're called to step out in faith before we can walk on water. It’s in the parenting — not the theorizing — that God provides the love we need.
True, life is hard, parenting is hard, and adoption can be hard. But should God call you to adopt, rest assured, your love, like the widow’s oil in Elijah's story (2 Kings 4), will never run dry. God is love — even if we are not. His resources are infinite, and He promises to supply all that we need in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).
2) We are not called to be the Ultimate Parent.
Our role is to point our children to the only Father who will love them perfectly. Whether we give birth to them or not, we will let our children down. Our motives and methods will be flawed, but God's are pure. We cannot "always be there," but we can daily direct our children to Jesus who will never leave them or forsake them (Hebrews 13:5).
3) To love differently is to love wisely.
No two children are alike, and no two kinds of love are alike. Love has nothing to do with birth; instead, it's about adapting to each child's love language, personality and unique needs. The memories and bonding experiences may differ, yes, but each is incomparably beautiful, reminding us that God gives gifts in different ways, in different packages.
If God is nudging you, consider. Pray. Ask the hard questions.
And as you pray about adoption or consider how you can support others in the process, keep in mind the purposeful, passionate pursuit of our very own adoptive Heavenly Father.
In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself... Ephesians 1:5
*What other questions do you have? Ask away!
*Do you have an adoption story to share? Leave a comment!
Blessings,
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