We were married almost 11 years ago. As newlyweds, our desire and plan was to have a baby after two years of marriage, a second baby after two more years, and a third baby after two years. When the first child did not come, we decided to undergo tests and fertility treatments with the goal of being able to have at least one biological child. After exhausting our fertility options and still not bearing a child, we sensed God might have a different plan in mind for us. We still had a strong desire to have a child, so we began to pursue the possibility of adoption. For us, adoption was simply the means for achieving our life-long dream of being parents. It would give us the opportunity to raise a child, to love and care for them, to teach them of God and His love for them, to watch them learn and grow. It would give us the privilege of knowing what it feels like to have a small hand in our hand, to be asked hundreds of curious questions, to receive a kiss from tiny wet lips, to hear the words, "I love you Mommy and Daddy."
Now that we are in the process of adopting a baby boy from Taiwan, adoption continues to be the means for the fulfillment of our desire and dream of being parents. However, God has been teaching us that adoption means far more than that!
First, adoption is a tremendous opportunity to more fully understand God's adoption of us and to imitate Him. We, as believers, were predestined by God before creation to be adopted by Him (Eph. 1:4-8), which was made possible for us through the death of Jesus Christ. When we put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ, we became sons and heirs of God (Gal. 4:4-7). In a sense, we will be able to exemplify God in being a "father to the fatherless (Ps. 68:5) and adopting our baby boy, making him our son with all of the rights, privileges, and obligations of sonship.
Second, adoption is a great way for us to be obedient to God and to care for neglected children. God commands us in James 1:27 to "visit" or look after orphans in their distress". We believe that one of the best ways to look after and care for an orphan is to adopt them.
Third, adoption gives us the chance to display the gospel in action and to share the gospel with others. God visited us in our affliction and brokenness and sent Christ to meet our every need. We were once hopeless in our sins, but now we have hope through Christ (Eph. 2:12-13). As we consider what God has done for us, we count it a responsibility and privilege to enter an orphan's affliction and brokenness and heal the void by God's grace. In the future, when people ask us questions about about our son or about adoption, we will have a springboard in which to share the gospel.
Finally, adoption is an incredible discipleship tool for us and for our son. God has been using this whole adoption process in our lives to mature us, to stretch us, to increase our faith, to grow in dependence on Him. He will continue to sanctify us as parents. We also will have the tremendous responsibility of teaching the gospel to our son and discipling him.
Lord-willing, in another month or two we will travel to Taiwan to officially adopt our son and receive him into our family. We thank God for this awesome privilege and opportunity! Without a doubt, God will continue to teach us so much more about adoption.
In conclusion, we would like to challenge you, as believers, to carefully consider adoption. Perhaps God is calling you to adopt a child. Maybe He is prompting you to pray for and give financially so that more Christian couples will be able to adopt children. Remember, you have been adopted by your Heavenly Father; there is a great need for children around the world to be adopted; and believers have the responsibility to care for those in need (James 1:27).
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