Adoption is the decision to make room in one’s heart and home for another and to place that child into the position of total equality with all the “natural born” children of the home. A son or daughter for life! “From this day forward, this child shall be every bit as much your child as all the rest of your children. This child will never NOT be your child!” (The judge’s words as the adoption procedure reached its conclusion.)

As she was checking out of the M.D. Anderson’s Cancer Clinic, my daughter struck up a conversation with the lady at the desk. Discovering that Dawn-Marie had two adopted children, the lady said, “I am an adopted child. I have a brother who was not. And I always told him, ‘Mom and Dad CHOSE me…they just got stuck with you!’”

When this event occurs, there is no way to describe the joy and excitement that is experienced by the receiving family! But in the case of a child who, on the day of their adoption, is old enough to comprehend what is taking place, those emotions are even more magnified. “I have been chosen. I have been loved by choice. I have been accepted just as I am. I belong!”

They languished on the fringes. They existed outside the spotlight, just close enough to see clearly how those on the inside-circle were blessed, but without any hope that they, too, would one day share those blessings. But suddenly, their fortunes changed! What had once been only the hope of the insiders was suddenly offered freely to the outsiders. In fact, their opportunity for inclusion came specifically BECAUSE the insiders placed no value on their unique blessings!

“It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you (the Jews) first; since you repudiate it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles…And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as were appointed (chosen) to eternal life believed.” Acts 13:46,48

Adoption is the decision to make room in one’s heart and home for another and to place that child into the position of total equality with all the ‘natural born’ children of the home. “But you were CHOSEN (appointed) in Him before the foundations of the earth!” Ephesians 1:4

Rejoice! You have been CHOSEN. God’s Labor of Love!

See you Sunday, Church!
Pastor Tom