Brance, Lauren & Haddie

Since my lovely wife posted about adoption, we’ve been getting a good number of questions, both on and off line, from family and friends concerning our interest in adoption. I thought I would take a minute to explain some of what we’re thinking, and where our interest lies.

Lauren very much has a heart of compassion and desires to help those in need. I share that sentiment, and am learning to be more compassionate just living life with such an amazing woman (Thank you Jesus!). We can think of no one in greater need than a child with no parents. We love our little Haddie so much that it just breaks our hearts to think of some other little child like her with no one to love on them. We know we’ve got more than enough love in our hearts, thanks to the love and grace of Jesus, to share with other little children.

So we’ve been thinking about adoption since we first got married. Lauren had a rough 9 months carrying Haddie. She was sick a lot, and had a very tough delivery at the end. Since then our thoughts about adoption have been more imminent. I guess that’s somewhat less than a pure motive, to avoid the pain of pregnancy and delivery, but it’s the truth of our thinking.

Our root interest in adoption though, lies in our own adoption by our heavenly Father, as Lauren so eloquently put it in her last post.

Several people have asked questions concerning racial components of adoption. My cousin Tiana asked if we were interested in transracial adoption (that’s the first time I’ve heard that term though). We are excited by the idea that the church in heaven consists of those from “every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages” (Revelation 7.9). We wouldn’t mind at all if our little family resembled the eternal church! We are especially interested in international adoption. It is more expensive because of the travel expenses, but there is a great need.

Uganda has over 2.3 million orphans, and only 51 of them have been adopted this year.

So the answer is a resounding YES! We are very interested in international/interracial adoption. After all, our Father in heaven adopted us in an international kind of way.

12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. – Colossians 1:12-14

November is National Adoption Awareness Month, so I thought I would post some of my thoughts on adoption.

“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

God could have chosen to save Christians and no more and that would have been an incredible act of grace and mercy.  But God does not stop there.  Not only does he love and save us while we are His enemy, but he amazingly adopts us into his family – becoming our father.

It isn’t surprising then, that the orphaned and widowed hold a special place in the Father’s heart.  We are told in James that:

“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” – James 1:27

Some of my earliest memories are of my family visiting widows in our community.  I’m very thankful for this spiritual heritage that has been given to me by my parents.  Our family has had the privilege of being blessed throughout the years by growing our family this way.  Though, it shouldn’t be surprising that when we as Christians bless others, we ourselves are blessed.  We are told:

“Whoever brings blessings will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.” – Proverbs 11:25

But I think often times we forget this truth.  I like to remind myself of this before I engage in the cyclic downward spiral of self-absorption, a lie our culture has sadly gift wrapped and presented as the the truth.

Another trap we can just as easily become entangled in, is that of self-righteousness.  Oh what a slippery slope the slope self-righteousness is!  Our good works do not come out of our love for and desire to please God, rather they come from the dark place of self-glorification.  Our heart’s desire is to bring glory to ourself rather than to the Father.

Let us constantly bring our motives before the altar of God’s will and pray that our deeds bring Him the glory He deserves.  What a beautiful thing for our will to sing in unison with the Father’s!

Brance and I have mentioned to a few people that we have been thinking and praying about adoption.  I would like to say that my heart’s desire and motive has been right the entire time.  But, my human nature likes to bring up fears, founded and unfounded alike.   Would you please join us in prayer as we seek God’s will in regards to adopting a child? 

I’m so thankful for my own adoption by God the Father and I’m excited to take part of the physical reflection of that here on earth.  I hope that other Christians might discover the joy that comes from blessing others through adopting the widowed and orphans into our families.  I know it might not be possible for every Christian to legally adopt a child, but there are countless boys and girls and widowed men and women who need the love of a family.  I encourage you to consider adopting someone into your family.  I’m sure you will be blessed like my family has been from God’s beautiful plan of adoption.