The Cross & Adoption

As I was rocking my 4th child tonight…my sweet boy who came to a gift to us through adoption–I was looking in his eyes…and he was looking in mine. I was singing–and in the midst of my singing, I brought my nose close to his and he began to giggle. Holding his bottle between his lips–laughter muffled out…and in between one of his giggles, he said, “Mama.”

When he says this–my heart melts…as any moms heart does. But something else happens to us adoption moms when this happens…something much deeper…

I thought, “Oh beautiful baby boy…every child needs a momma. You have me…and I have you. HOW I WISH EVERY CHILD COULD HAVE THIS!“

I thought about the 147,000,000 orphans throughout the world–that will NEVER know a momma’s song…a momma’s kiss. Little ones who will never know what it feels like to be tucked in at night…to be fed full bottles…and to have the gift of giggling in a momma’s arms.

I thought about the little ones with sore backs and flat heads because for hours on end they lay in cribs with no one to play with them…no one to rock them…no one to simply love them.

And then as I rocked I thought about the cross.

ISN’T THIS WHY HE CAME???

ISN’T THIS WHY WE ACCEPT JESUS AS OUR SAVIOR???

ISN’T THIS WHY WE SAY YES—FOR YOUR SAKE—WE WILL NOT GET CAUGHT UP IN THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD! WE WILL NOT LIVE FOR OUR OWN WILL BUT FOR YOUR WILL???

Jesus came for our sake–to CHANGE us…

Jesus came for their sake–to MINISTER to them THROUGH us…

Are we listening?

Are we following?

Are we radically clinging to the gospel and living for Him rather than ourselves?

I rocked my sweet boy and my heart was melting. Ten months ago, I was rocking a boy full of fear. He didn’t understand or even know how to be loved. He would scream at night when he could not feel my hand touching him…many nights we slept cheek to cheek. Week by week trust was built. And slowly but ever so powerfully, love is healing.

The cross…it was really about HEALING. To the world it looked just to be full of pain. BUT by his stripes–we are healed.

LOVE came down in the form of Jesus…for our sake and theirs.

He came to HEAL.

And when we are adopted as sons and daughters…and become sons and daughters of the Almighty God through Jesus–we are able to be healed…and then help others heal.

ONCE BELIEVERS—WE ARE CALLED TO HELP OTHERS HEAL.

This Easter…I ask you to pray with me–ask the Lord to lead you in His way to be a vessel for His power to be worked through. Whether it’s through adoption, foster care, orphan care, serving a neighbor, helping a single-mom, opening your home to someone who can’t afford one…whatever it is…to NOT make whatever you do a one time service project…to NOT make something a part of your to-do-list like it but A WAY OF LIFE through SACRIFICIAL LOVE. THIS is where change happens…when it becomes a part of your day to day life…isn’t that what living for Him, through Him and in Him means???

It will not be easy–but it will tranform your heart…and your life. And I promise you will experience blessing through it.

I thought tonight about so many orphan care ministries–and how they began and/or run by adoption families. I have a feeling they were changed to…MORE through the HEALING and being a part of the process rather than the trip to visit their child’s country to bring them home. There is power in being a part of the healing…and as you watch healing take place through sacrificial love–you can’t help but think of the rest of the world who is hurting…and how much the Lord might be able to do through a few people willing to take a step of faith.

Tonight I walked out of the nursery…no tears were shed like months before. There was no having to run back and calm him down and remind him I am his momma and it’s going to be okay. Instead–there was peace. I could hear my sweet boy jabbering to himself quietly as I walked away. Such comfort. Such joy. I smiled walking away…thinking of how far he has come…and how he is finally home in his heart, too. I shudder to think if we had settled with being comfortable or to be satisfied with “the American Dream”. God’s dream for our life and for the lives of others He leads us to is SO much greater!

May you hear from Him as you seek His will–and may you be blessed as you step out in faith and follow!

While He died on the cross–His followers mourned…they had no idea the hope that was to come. I see so much hurting in the world–yet there is SO MUCH HOPE too!!! We can be used as His hands and feet…and we can be a part of many beautiful resurrections and miracles as we follow!

Celebrating His goodness, hope and power,

Andrea