A few months ago, Krista and I attended an adoption conference (Summit VII ) in Louisville, KY. We had been discussing adoption periodically over the course of a number of years. We would sporadically pray over the opportunity. I'm sure Krista was more focused and consistent in this prayer more than me. However, after attending the conference, our Father 'wrecked our lives.' That is, we cannot see our family not pursuing the joy and mission of adoption.
Since the conference, Krista has been a machine with research, web-browsing, reading, etc... As a matter of fact her intensity is, honestly, a little frustrating at times. What resolve!
We are not certain on all the details to date, but we are certain we are walking by faith down this path towards bringing home another child. The goal is large, the task complicated, the means short (to say the least), but our hope is alive and well. In addition, we are convinced that we are truly undeserving of the two wonderful boys we have been given and feel the same about the privilege of adopting our third.
To say the least we are excited and in many ways unsure. Not unsure about adoption, but from where, when, how much, and everything in between. A couple of years ago I read Crazy Love by Francis Chan and he posed the question, 'What are you doing that causes you to live by faith?' At the time I was hard-pressed to answer that question. Today, looking at the enormous need in our world with the orphan, the cost of adoption, the details of transitioning, the assimilation of a little one into our family and vice versa, and the thought of how some may respond to our new addition, I must confess we are walking a little more by faith.
We don't consider ourselves heroes in any way; we often fall short. Our battle is not over. We don't see nor want adoption to be a means of pride in our lives. Rather, we want it to be a means of simply boasting in our great God who has enabled us to cry 'Abba Daddy.'
If you would have asked me years ago that I would ever consider adoption, I would have easily and readily dismissed the idea. Today, I'm amazed at His grace and providence and can gladly say, Our anticipation grows each day, our discussions about a new child saturates our home, and our prayers are more focused.
JW
