Why Are We Adopting? Answer #2.

I want to just say, I love all of who have been asking us about this. I love talking about it (can you tell by how fast I talk? :)). Even if you think we’re crazy, I would love to answer those questions too! I’ve realized, though, that I often end up just talking about the process, and what many of you really might what to know is the why. So for all those questions that didn’t get asked or answered:

Why are we adopting? Answer #2.

Because it makes my heart sing. I’m sure many of you have something that makes you happy, your obsession. It is what keeps you up at night or gets you out of bed in the morning. It’s what puts a smile on your face. Orphans have always been a passion of mine.  A long time ago, prompted by one of my awesome Biola profs, I asked myself the question that I hope to ask my girls: “How can I use my gifts and passions for Christ?” I knew the answer was kids, people, relationships. And orphans followed naturally. I became hooked; I couldn’t get them out of my head. Now the thought of finally getting to reach out and love kids who need it just makes me feel like dancing in the streets. This is what I was made for. This makes me feel alive. My heart is singing.

It was different for Kevin though. He knew what he was marrying when he picked me; I was upfront about all of my crazy dreams. While they weren’t his dreams 8-9 years ago, he has come to being every bit as committed to it as I am. Now he loves the idea of helping kids when they need it a (he is way more passionate about the “foster” part of the fost-adopt process than I am!). So we’ve come to the foster-adoption to help kids where they need it, when they need and if a permanent adoptive family is what they need, we’d both be beyond happy to be that family for them. He loves the idea of our whole family doing ministry together, shoulder to shoulder, each member (even the 1 year old) doing a part to reach out to the hurting in the world. And something I absolutely love about him--he believes in doing the right thing because it’s the right thing. I know from experience that that commitment can get you through many a difficult hour.

Which leads me to my last thought. I want to help kids because I feel like it’s what we’ve been called to and I want to obey. Many of you know that I’m something of a blog junkie. My treadmill, iPad and half marathon training schedule has only made it worse. I read dozens of blogs, really. As a result, I hear ALL the stories. The tear-jerkingly beautiful, the bad, and the sometimes very ugly. I have heard many, many ways this can go wrong. And I can stay up at night panicked at all the nightmares I’ve heard. But--and this is a huge but for me--I believe in a sovereign, loving God. And I know that He has called us to love the hurting in the world (James 1:27: “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world”). A verse I’ve been meditating on lately is Psalm 37:5-6:

Commit your way to the LORD;
  trust in him and he will do this:
He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
  your vindication like the noonday sun.

That’s it. Do the right thing, commit it to God and let Him have the rest. That’s all I can do, right? Oh, the peace that comes from trusting in God! Which leads me to the hymn I’ve been singing this week:

All the way my Savior leads me;
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who through life has been my Guide?
Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well,
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.