The Blessing of Adoption

Little Jocelyn’s first-grade class was talking about adoption. Excitedly, she raised her hand and said, “I know all about adoption because I’m adopted!”

“What does it mean to be adopted?” the teacher asked.

“It means,” said Jocelyn, “that you grew in your mother’s heart instead of her tummy.”

Norma Jean and I know what Jocelyn meant. 44 years ago today, we drove to the Children’s Home Society in St. Petersburg, Florida, to see our daughter Rachél for the first time. When we walked into the room, although she was only 4 ½ months old, she pulled herself up in her crib. Stood there smiling at us, as if to say, “Hi Mommy and Daddy! I’m your little girl. Take me home.” And we did.

Although we signed the official adoption papers weeks later in family court, we celebrate today as her adoption birthday. Reflecting on that period in our lives floods our hearts with so many emotions and our minds with special thoughts.

#1 Roe v. Wade was the law of the land for 5 years. Abortions were legal. Today, that debate is being renewed since the Supreme Court struck it down as unconstitutional. How thankful we are that Rachél’s birth mother was pro-life. She had the strength, courage, and commitment to give birth. Then do what she knew was best for Rachél’s future.

There is no way to know how many lives, besides ours, her virtuous decision has positively impacted. Thank you.

#2 While we told Rachél from her earliest days that she was adopted, it wasn’t something we dwelt upon. Or let it make a difference for our son, Kenny. Rachél received the same blessings and benefits of our family. We shared the same values with both children. We tried to teach the same responsibilities and expectations evenly. We can relate to one mother who quipped, “I have four children. Two are adopted. I can’t remember which two.”

#3 This is a good time to remind Christians that it’s not enough to be against abortion; we must be for adoption. Obviously, not everyone can or even should adopt children. But we can all support it. One organization we recommend and support is Sacred Selections. Since its founding in 2006, they have either partially or fully funded the adoption of 415 children.

#4 The physical act of adoption reminds us that as Christians God has adopted us into His spiritual family.

“Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. “In love He predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.” (Eph 1:4-6, ESV)

William Hendriksen, in his commentary on Ephesians, expressed this thought beautifully. “When the Father chose a people for himself, deciding to adopt them as his own children, he was motivated by love alone. So what he did resulted not from sheer determination but from supreme delight. A person may be fully determined to submit to a very serious operation. Again, he may be just as fully determined to plant a beautiful rose garden. Both are matters of the will. However, the latter alone is a matter of delight, that is, of his will’s good pleasure. Thus, God, who does not afflict from the heart (Lam. 3:33), delights in the salvation of sinners.”

As a Christian, you grew in God’s heart. He chose you. He wanted you. He adopted you. He delights in you. And He has a purpose and plan for your life in His Son, Jesus Christ.

Furthermore, this wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment or emotional decision. He purposed your adoption before He created the world. It was a choice motivated by love.

It’s worth noting that we didn’t adopt our daughter because of what she could do for us, but what we could do for her. Similarly, God adopted us because of the blessings He can provide for us in His Family.

When a child was adopted in the first century, author Charles Welch observed four major changes in Roman culture. A change of family. A change of name. A change of home. And a change of responsibilities. That’s what God did when He adopted you and me.

Think about it. You’re a part of God’s spiritual family. You’re afforded “all spiritual blessings in Christ.” Jesus is now your elder brother. And you’ve been given a new name–Christian.

Furthermore, you are guaranteed an inheritance. A mansion in heaven. Eternal riches. Yes, you have a special place in His heart.

We’re thankful for the blessing of adoption. Happy adoption birthday, Rachél

And thank you, Father, for adopting us into your Family.

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman