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adopted

Ephesians 3-6
"How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son. "

How easy for it have been for God to have skipped the adoption step or distinction. Just call us his children or sons or heirs.
Instead it says multiple times in the bible that we were adopted.
That we were picked special.
I especially like this translation ( the message) because it talks about how much pleasure he took in planning this.
That maybe this path was slightly more exciting, more risky, more intentful and ultimately more costly.

Their is something so special about adoption. I have had several friends adopt, and every time I have been slightly more excited for their babies than the rest of my friends more traditional ones. When someone gets pregant it is exciting. When you give birth it is amazing and wonderful and a million other emotions. And you love that baby in ways you didn't even know you could the moment the nurse places it in your arms. But when someone adopts it is chosing to love a child like that. To love them like they are yours. Because, they become exactly that. I am amazed at that kind of love. At that kind of choice. One that comes with much risk and a great price. Maybe I am just amazed that God did that for me. That he chose me, rescued me, paid for me (dearly), and called me His own.

Right now as I type one of my best friends is sitting in a hotel room with her new son.
This is their first night together and I am sure she is nervous about him waking up in a strange place calling out for his mom.
His mom who signed her rights away yesterday.
I get all choked up thinking about it.
Mostly because I know her story. And part of his.

She has been trying to have a child for all of the seven years that I have known her and then some. She has exhausted all methods and monies. My pregnancies both came easily and I was almost afraid to tell her each time because I know how desperately she wanted a baby. Every time I knew that God had something bigger planned.

And he did. His name is Ke and he is 19 months old and desperately needs my friend as his mom. Even though he isn't the "baby" she has been trying for for a decade, even though their skin colors don't match up, even though I'm sure this is not the path she would have drawn for herself.

This is path she has been preparing for even when she didn't know it. This is the perfect path. I can't wait for this path to bring them back home so I can join in the celebration and lavish gift giving (vs6).

Comments

Alyssa said…
Thank you for this wonderful reminder of all of our adoptions into the body of Christ! And congratulations to your friend on the new addition to her family.
MoserUpdates said…
My husband and I just adopted a 3yr old from Ukraine and have received confirmation after confirmation that he was the child God had planned for us all along. Our adventure is only 4yrs in the making (1.5 of that the adoption process and almost 3 months being parents). God's adoption of us was one of the reasons I approached Dave about adopting now and trying infertility stuff later. It's sometimes hard to remember God is in everything when His plans don't go the way we think they should. :) Great thoughts.
Margie said…
I hope you follow up with this. I'd love to see pictures and know their story. This is wonderful!
Margie said…
Michelle, you might be interested in a series of guest posts at Conversion Diary by a couple who felt led by God to adopt 2 HIV positive kids from Africa. The first of the 3 posts is here: http://www.conversiondiary.com/2009/07/one-couples-journey-to-adopting-hiv.html

Hope you like it!

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