“Why should we adopt these two little girls?” We wrestled with this question. We already have four biological daughters and two adopted sons and are supposed to be “empty nesters.” 

Is it because we love children so much? We want to rescue vulnerable kids? God loves orphans and we should too? Other people are adopting? We want to stretch ourselves so we will be more like Christ? We want to stay busy and active? Is it about us? Is it about the children?

All of these questions crossed our mind, but in the end we realized it’s about one thing and one thing only: it’s about God.

Ten years ago, when our daughters were ages 8 through 14, we began caring for children in our home through foster care ministry. God confirmed his desire for us to adopt one boy. Less than a year later, we adopted his brother.

We did not take the decision to adopt lightly. At that time, we were at an age where many of our peers were becoming empty nesters. God clearly confirmed his desire and our life became a new adventure as we added these two rough and tumble boys.

We continued to foster, assuming that our call to adoption was complete. In December 2009, God placed in our minds the peculiar thought that he might ask us to adopt two little girls. Would we be available if he asked us? We wrestled with God for eight months. There were so many reasons this did not make sense. Slowly, he unfolded his plan and confirmed his desire, making it ours, and now we are in the process of adopting two more girls, sisters, through foster care.

After almost 25 years of parenting, we are faced with challenges far beyond any we have faced before. There are days when we think, “This is too hard!” But then we see our two little girls, who have been tossed and tumbled from home to home, who are trying to control their little worlds to gain stability, and we realize we can do this. We have to do this. Sure, we have trials and conflicts, but our home is filled with love, laughter and life. There are spontaneous gestures of selflessness and encouraging times of growth. We have great hope as we see God’s redemptive love lived out through us under our own roof.

After we become Christians, we are no longer to live our lives the way we used to live. Our responses, choices and attitudes are now to conform to Christ’s character and his word. God is creating a masterpiece through each of our lives that is one-of-a-kind and that will put him on display. We have to step out of what is safe, comfortable, and understood and approved of by others and do what he asks us to do. We have to remember this is our temporary home. We have such a brief time to be his hands, to love and serve him.

Prayer of the Week:
-God, please be with those who are wrestling with their call from you. Give them a sense of peace and trust in your will for them.