The Bandwagon

Why anyone would think that a family would choose to adopt "to be on the adoption bandwagon" or "because it seems like the popular thing to do" is simply beyond my ability to understand.  I wish that caring for those who can't care for themselves - orphans, widows, the poor - would become the "popular" thing to do. Truly, following this Biblical mandate is becoming more common as many of those who claim to follow Christ are waking up and actually attempting to live out His commandments.  It is a wonderful thing to see more and more Christians understanding God's heart for the less fortunate.  As a result, more people are sensing a "call" on their lives when it comes to the orphan.  John and I were just discussing this the other day.  We never heard an audible voice from Heaven say, "You are to adopt from Ethiopia."  Instead, over a period of time, our hearts were burdened and that burden continued to grow.  As we learned more about the plight of the orphan and as we considered our ability to do something tangible, we sensed that "call" to move forward with adopting a child in need of a family.  I will admit to being afraid - we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into.  Ultimately, though, we trusted that God was in control and that He would not only provide financially, but He would also give us wisdom and strength for whatever came our way.  He has not failed us yet.  While we wish that Sena could have been able to stay with her birth family and grow up in her beautiful Ethiopia, circumstances prevented that from happening.  We know that in spite of her early losses, God had a plan for her life and we are thankful to be a small part of that.  And we are committed to her, just as we are committed to our boys.  It is possible that she will grow up and not want anything to do with us.  It is also possible that one or all of our boys might decide that, too.  It would break my heart, but I would love them anyway.  There are no guarantees with children - biological or adopted.  We knew we were signing on the for the long term with each of our children and we wouldn't have it any other way.  I have come to realize that the insensitive comments made by others regarding our adoption motivation really has little to do with us and everything to do with them.  For whatever reason, it makes them uncomfortable.  That is not our goal - we are simply trying to live out our faith and be obedient to what we know God has asked us to do.

Matthew 7:24  Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.