As the family worked to clear their belongings from the highway, a large truck barreled towards them going too fast to stop and with no way to go around. Their father shouted to them to get out of the way, but 7 year-old Charlie did not hear his cries. Steven, his 10 year-old brother, tried to push him out of harms way but, tragically, both children were killed.
When the doctor told the boys' mother that he was unable to save them, she responded with her testimony of another who had given His life and of His redeeming love; a love that broke the bands of death and allows us to be reunited with those we love.
Upon reading this story, I was overwhelmed with sadness, but I was also reminded of a passage of scripture: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13).
I read another article today. This article was written by Dr. Russell Moore, author of "Adopted for Life." The article was entitled, "Don't Adopt!" Dr. Moore explains that, while we are all called in some way to "visit the fatherless and the widows in their affliction," NOT all of us are called to adopt.
At first glance, these two articles seemingly have nothing in common, but at the core of both is this: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
The call to adopt is a call to "lay down your life." If that seems a little extreme, consider the following:
"Every adoption, every orphan, represents a tragedy. Someone was killed, someone left, someone was impoverished, or someone was diseased. Wrapped up in each situation is some kind of hurt, and all that accompanies that. That’s the reason there really is no adoption that is not a “special needs” adoption; you just might not know on the front end what those special needs are.
If what’s behind all of this isn’t crucified, war-fighting, eyes-open commitment, you are going to wind up with a child who is twice orphaned. He or she will be abandoned the first time by fatherlessness and the second time by the rejection of failing to live up to the expectations of parents who had no business imposing such expectations in the first place."
If what’s behind all of this isn’t crucified, war-fighting, eyes-open commitment, you are going to wind up with a child who is twice orphaned. He or she will be abandoned the first time by fatherlessness and the second time by the rejection of failing to live up to the expectations of parents who had no business imposing such expectations in the first place."
Too many people enter into adoption without fully understanding and accepting the "brokenness and risk" that accompanies the orphan, regardless of the age or the circumstances from which they were adopted. Too often people assume that, because they are "saving" a child from an otherwise miserable life, that child will be grateful and accepting of their new parents, family and home, only to be overwhelmed by a child who turns their world upside down and rejects them because they were once abandoned, neglected and forgotten.
Nothing is more beautiful than watching a child who has experienced tragedy transform through the redeeming love of Christ and a loving, committed family, but that kind of transformation requires you to set yourself aside completely and give everything that you have (and more) to helping that child heal. You do not have to be perfect to do this (I am living testimony of that), you just have to be willing to accept all of the heartache, grief, chaos and upheaval that accompanies adopting/fostering a child. . . .just as the Savior accepts and loves us despite our brokenness.
In the midst of our 6th and 7th adoptions, we have learned to throw "expectations" out the window and recognize that we must fully rely on our Heavenly Father to guide us through the process of integrating these children into our family and healing their hurts, no matter the sacrifice. We prepare our home and family for their addition, but more importantly, we prepare our hearts to love these children unconditionally.
Every time we have welcomed a child into our family it has thrown our world into temporary chaos.
IT. IS. WORTH. IT!
Not everyone is called to adopt (and some shouldn't), but we can ALL answer the call to "visit the fatherless and the widows in their affliction" by giving, supporting and praying for those that have been called to walk that path.
If you feel called to foster/adopt and you are ready to "lay down your life" for a child, move forward in faith, knowing that the Lord WILL equip you with the strength and ability to provide the redeeming love necessary to overcome all hurts; you will be unimaginably blessed.
Nothing is more beautiful than watching a child who has experienced tragedy transform through the redeeming love of Christ and a loving, committed family, but that kind of transformation requires you to set yourself aside completely and give everything that you have (and more) to helping that child heal. You do not have to be perfect to do this (I am living testimony of that), you just have to be willing to accept all of the heartache, grief, chaos and upheaval that accompanies adopting/fostering a child. . . .just as the Savior accepts and loves us despite our brokenness.
In the midst of our 6th and 7th adoptions, we have learned to throw "expectations" out the window and recognize that we must fully rely on our Heavenly Father to guide us through the process of integrating these children into our family and healing their hurts, no matter the sacrifice. We prepare our home and family for their addition, but more importantly, we prepare our hearts to love these children unconditionally.
Every time we have welcomed a child into our family it has thrown our world into temporary chaos.
IT. IS. WORTH. IT!
Not everyone is called to adopt (and some shouldn't), but we can ALL answer the call to "visit the fatherless and the widows in their affliction" by giving, supporting and praying for those that have been called to walk that path.
If you feel called to foster/adopt and you are ready to "lay down your life" for a child, move forward in faith, knowing that the Lord WILL equip you with the strength and ability to provide the redeeming love necessary to overcome all hurts; you will be unimaginably blessed.
