*Warning I will get a tad preachy in this post*
Many people have asked us why we choose to adopt. Even here in Taiwan people are very curious. The man that took our photo hanging off Taipei 101 was just so curious why we would come half way around the world to adopt a baby. He said, can you not have children of your own, your government seems to promote it, and it is popular in America. If only he knew that we probably could have our own (we have not tried to get pregnant). If only he knew how much work and effort it takes to adopt a child. If only he knew how much devotion and patience this process takes. We always seem to brush off the comments by throwing softball answers back at them. We typically say, we feel called to adopt and care for those that can't, or toss a statistic at them. The truth is... God has given us this blessing of adoption just as He gives birth mothers the blessing of having a child. There are few things in life you can use to irrefutably claim the power of God, but adoption is one of those. No wonder James said pure and faultless religion is to look after orphans in their distress. Every time I look at my son I praise God. What a blessing we have to be able to share that with others. For the rest of my life he will be a reminder of what God did for me. My Heavenly Father adopted me, and His price was much greater. He had to sacrifice His only Son just to complete my adoption. Praise God for adoption, if it were not for adoption how hopeless would we all be?
We were given this opportunity to bless God. We don't have the ability to do it on our own. When we started with Harrison's referral we knew the only way possible would be for God to "make it happen." I used to pray that God would do something in my life that was some unbelievable and so beyond my means that the only explanation of it would be that God made it happen. That is an answered prayer. I believe God wants glory and praise from us. We have some freedom in defining glory and praise. I hope that Harrison's story will bring glory and praise to Him. We trusted in God more than ever in our lives, and He did things more amazing than I can describe. He takes doubt away when we think it can't be done, He takes fear away when we're scared to follow, and He shows compassion even though we don't deserve it.
Praise God!
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Amen and Praise God!! Well said Brandon! I believe I commented on April's blog quite recently that ya'll are truly giving God the glory in your story! I feel the same way! I know that any adoption is planned by God. I pray everyday for the children that God has picked for us, and I pray for the birth parents of our children (regardless if that is us or someone else!). Thank you for sharing your perspective and please, never apologize for "getting preachy" when sharing God's love and work in your life!!
ReplyDeleteBrandon! Thank you for this :) I can't wait to hopefully got through this process one day and to look to April and yourself for guidance. I have always wondered if me wanting to adopt was God's way of preparing me for something, but I think I will be blessed enough to bare my own children, but I think I have the heart you two have.
ReplyDeleteAnd on a random side note: One of my dearest friends is adopted. And it makes his faith and testimony AMAZING. He can never be more thankful for being adopted by a loving, Christian family. Harrison is going to have a beautiful life and story to share!
I'd love to listen/read your preaching any time. Your story not only brings glory to God but inspires others to not give up when there doesn't seem to be a way.
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