January 17, 2008
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God adopted us, so…
Had a vivid dream last night. Sam & I had somehow come to know two kids, a boy and a girl about 7 or 8 years old, who had tragic, abandoned lives of not being seen for their value and worth. We adopted them. We loved them just as quickly as we realized their need and our availability. And I got this sense that they were supposed to be ours. They really belonged to us.
In the dream, we were living in a really large house — one that was given to us and that we were still discovering. The top floor had six bedrooms in it. We put the kids in a room that was large enough to have 4 twin-sized beds. It was that big! I’m not sure how it came to be that we were given this large house — but perhaps it’s God reminding me that, with Him, there is just always a lot of room. No limit to His provision, His abundance, His love.
Adoption. The idea has been on our radar for awhile now. Out of God’s exemplary pattern of adopting us, how can we not follow in His footsteps of this kind of love in overflow? I can’t think of very many reasons not to. –except the reality that it’s a little out of the ordinary (in our little world) to adopt when you could have ‘biological’ children. Will others not only accept but adopt the idea? Lots to ponder and to pray over… Do you have any thoughts on the subject?
Comments (21)
I’m SOO glad that you guys have been thinking about this. I would do it…Just reading Isaiah this morning from chapter 1-11- defending the orphan, widow, homeless was mentioned so many times! I feel like God has been trying to remind me that His heart really is for the defenseless, the poor, the ones who can’t speak or stand up for themselves! This is God’s truth..He talks about it so much!
Anyway…I think that all people, especially orphans, deserve a loving family, a place where they can learn to love and be loved. We were adopted by God, He’s shown us what Love is- why wouldn’t we not pass that on to those who need it most?
Let’s keep talkin about this. I’ll be prayin for you and SamK about this…i think you SHOULD DO IT!!!! YEAH!
Wow, Pam!! Thanks for the encouragement. I guess we were thinking about very similar things this morning. I think most of us agree cognitively that God has loved us and adopted us — but not all would agree that God calls us to such an ‘action’ in response. My wonderings about this are mostly wondering if our family and friends would adopt our child too — would the child really be considered family to them?
I think if you know God has called you to ‘action’, He will honor you. I know He will also be working in the hearts of your family and friends… a child is a gift and is a life that God intended to be loved. I think it’s cool that you’re looking outside of yourselves and thinking of those who are in need…
rock on!
i think that’s awesome maryann, i would love to see a movement of this
on a large scale. for all the energy we invest in being
“anti-abortion,” i have yet to see a similar energy towards
adoption…if there’s no abortion, who’s going to take care of all
these kids?
that’s an awesome dream — i believe its a God-sourced one
. it reminds me of the bakers out in mozambique!
i realized a little while ago that we’re so quick to defend and stand by orphans in china, orphans in third world countries… yet for some reason, orphans in america are often overlooked. it’s sad on our society’s part… but all the more sad for those countless, precious children who are without stable, safe homes where they can be loved.
yeah adoption has always been one of the things I want to do ever since I went to Steven Curtis Chapman concert (after he adopted an adorable Chinese girl) where he was inspired to write the song “When Love Takes you In”.
I think it’s so appropriate for us Christians to demonstrate the love that our Father has lavished upon us. 
I would say adoption is more common these days – look at Steven Curtis Chapman, Angelina Jolie and other celebrities. I also know of many people from Bethel who has adopted kids. Some of my friends were also adopted.
But I admit though – adoption is not as common in Asian circles.
I can’t imagine friends and family having any other response to your children but to love them…regardless of their age, or origin. Maybe it would take them a little time to warm up to the idea of adoptees, if it’s a new concept. But it’s a beautiful idea–and inspiring to me. (I would definitely consider adopting!) I love that in your dream, God gave you more than enough room for the children!
that’s a really awesome dream. i especially agree with footprintz, about how there’s so little push towards adoption compared to the pro-life movement. see tiffany’s organization, ray of hope ministries in taiwan. they work on both sides of the coin of pro-life, anti-abortion as well as adoption.
Adopt = + +
awesome dream!…
as one of my favorite talk show hosts says, “they’re yours once they start crying & need your care. doesn’t matter where they came from.”
footprintz & strummingsam – So true! I would love to see a movement of believers seeking to take care of the ‘parentless’ as the Bible says. We all talk about orphans — we read about God’s heart for them — but none of us really think we are in positions to care for them *really* — however, the reality is that we are, we just aren’t willing to entertain the idea of stepping out of the norm and following His heart on this. If we are against abortion, we really should be taking care of the children that are abandoned and unwanted.
I’ve always wondered if it’s “inappropriate” for a single person to adopt.. Well, my suspicion is the agencies won’t let a single person adopt, which at least from that perspective would be an answer.. But I don’t know.. Something I’ve wondered about..
Ditto, adopt. I love kids and soo sad many are w/out a parent in the US or other countries.
I think singles can adopt — they don’t discriminate against your not being married — however, something to think over is what to do (with the baby) when you are working. Single parenting is difficult, and most would not choose it if they did not have to.
Yes, I have tons of thoughts on the subject. I wish you lived closer, so we could love them with you. We’ll just have to love them from a distance. If I had my way, I’d adopt and have foster children for the rest of my life and that would be my life’s work (I guess in a way, that is how I make my living now, loving and taking on other people’s children, training others to love and take on other’s children in the best possible way). There is nothing wrong with out of the ordinary. Jesus was and is out of the ordinary. Extraordinary.
haha, yeah I don’t think I could adopt a baby as a single person. But possibly a non-baby.
Oh Kim, I wish you lived closer too — then we could parent together — and our foster kid/adopted children could feel a sense of belonging by you!
regarding singles adopting… just my thoughts…. be they PC or not… i think God made sure the family has two people, a man & a woman for a reason. nothing against single parents! there is a role that a father plays and a role that a mother plays in the life of a child that is very important to its emotional, social, and even spiritual health. i come from a single parent family & don’t wish that on anybody.
do you remember grace halland from our Total It Up? She’s serving in Africa now, and in the process of adopting a beautiful little girl from a local orphanage there… it’s so nuts. She’s younger than us, and single! But I would think that little girl will have a wonderful life with her as her mom, rather than no parents at all…
I mean, what if you had a parent that died, I think that parent would be given special grace to raise you still. but you know i’m pro-adoption. i was much more ready to adopt than have my own kids… (that was the original plan!) and i don’t think it should be a last ditch option when all else fails with having biological children, it can be a first option!i also think it is something God puts on the hearts of special people and that is not something to be ignored. if you feel the tug, take it very seriously! and talk to people who have adopted, it’s really the greatest conversations ever!!
I soooo agree with allclear! In regard to Starcatch’s comment: If there’s a choice between no parents vs. a single parent who will give them Chirstlike love, a single parent is the better choice. It’s not an ideal world we live in — if there’s a single person whose heart has been opened to love orphans, then they should adopt, and God will supply the rest. We live in community — and within the community, there will be many aunties and uncles who will make up for the other facets of the image of God which may be ‘missing’ from having just one parent. Often times, having a mother & father is still not enough to the development of one child’s entire emotional, social and spiritual well-being. We need the whole body of Christ.
allclear, I love the example of your single missionary friend… and I think it’s so awesome!! Thanks for sharing about her.
wow!!! when i don’t read xanga i miss out on great conversations as this. i think you and sam should really pray and ask God to create a path if this desire on your heart is to be realized. maybe you’re not in the phase of “is this desire good or true?” but in teh phase of saying… “yes God , now how?”