Adopted through Christ

God never ceases to amaze me in the ways he demonstrates his love for me. Blessing me with wonderful friendships is one of those ways, and Jenifer is one of those dear friends. She is a fellow homeschooling mom with five beautiful children. Her youngest was brought into her family through adoption, and what she said about that the other day in our Sunday school class really touched me...

This is Jenifer's youngest child, Maddie Kate. I know she has grumpy moments like any baby, but she has a grin every time I see her! Jenifer knew that it was part of God's plans that they adopt Maddie (the way He orchestrated it all is quite a story in itself!), but because she has four biological children, she admits to being a little bit worried that she wouldn't love Maddie in quite the same way as the children that grew in her own tummy. But God poured out his love into her heart (Romans 5:5) and her love for Maddie is just as strong as it is for her other children. Every time she holds Maddie, she is in awe of how much love God gave her for this little girl who grew in another mama's body. And as she sits in wonder and awe of the love she feels, and of the Lord who sent this child to her, she hears Him whisper in her ear, "That is exactly how I feel about you." The Lord has adopted us into his family, and He loves us just as much as he loves his only begotten Son!!! That makes me want to jump up and skip around the room-- how 'bout you?

"In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves." Ephesians 1:5-6

In pondering this further, I thought about the kids in foster care: the ones waiting for adoption. The ones who have been through some tough times and are in need of homes. They aren't cookie-cutter perfect; they come with baggage, and they'll need a whole lot of love and patience to work through all that. Obviously some will have more problems to overcome than others. Many people think we're probably a little crazy to be willing to bring a child like this into our family. And sometimes it scares me a little...

But as our pastor talked on Sunday about the dysfunctional family of Isaac (particularly in all the troubles with Esau and Jacob), a realization hit me: we are those children with baggage, in need of a loving home. We aren't perfect. In fact, we're very flawed! Some of us have more problems to overcome than others. But God is willing to bring troubled children like us into his family. He loves us despite all our many flaws, despite our baggage and our troubles. Even when we act out, he has the utmost patience with us, and he loves us through it all. God knows all there is to know about dysfunctional families and troubled children. What a glorious, wonderful realization! It is so comforting to me to know that He will give us plenty of love and patience for whatever children He brings into our family. I know with all my heart that all children-- step-children, biological children, and adopted children --are a blessing, and I know that "troubled" child we adopt will bless us, probably more than we will bless that child.

"Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him."
Psalm 127:3