If we are called to go, why do we stay? ~ Larry Porter
The decision to follow Christ was a decision that Jeremy and I made late in life. We had already begun raising children. We had trouble in our marriage and I began to look for some way to help keep us together. I was lead to Christ by a a friend. Jeremy, being the logical man he is, took some time to think things through. But God got to him. He gave his life to Christ a year later.
When we first got married we talked about adoption. We knew that eventually we would adopt. We continued to add onto our family. We never really had the urge to adopt at the beginning although it had been something we always talked about in passing. Even after we came to Christ we continued to add to our family and again, never really felt the push to adopt although, again, we talked about it often.
After Josiah was born Jeremy and I both felt it was our last pregnancy. We had 6 beautiful children and, while it was painful to think about that chapter of our lives ending, we both knew that it was time. God put that on our hearts, knowing me and my love of being pregnant and having my babies, the peace I had was remarkable. A peace beyond understanding.
In January, Jeremy brought me the book Kisses for Katie and said "read it". Jeremy is not much of a reader and he is definitely not one to pick up a book and tell me to read it. So after we finished our latest missionary book, Rachel Saint, we picked up Kisses for Katie and there ended every last drop of doubt as to Gods calling on our lives at this time. We would adopt. Not later, not when we had the money, not when the kids were older and it would be "easier". God clearly told us to get moving.
The decision to follow Christ is a commitment. Pastor just said that today. And it is. Sometimes is it not easy. Sometimes it's amazingly easy. But it is a commitment, a stronger commitment than the one you made to your husband or wife on your wedding day. Its a stronger commitment than when you got pregnant for the first time and committed your life to that little one inside you.
The decision to follow Christ is a surrender. Everything you have is now His. Your children, your husband or wife. Your home. Your finances. Your hopes and your dreams. Your future. Everything is to be laid at the foot of His cross.
Your decision to follow Christ is dying to oneself. You are not the you you once were. You can not be selfish with your time, your money, your family, your plans. You are no longer your own, you belong to Him.
I see no where in the bible that we are to make life easier on ourselves. I have 6 children. Adding a child, most likely a child with health problems, into my home will make things more challenging. Of course. It would be easier to not adopt. I could just continue to homeschool and care for my beloveds, play with my cats, clean my house and make dinners. I love my life, I'm living my dream, as little my life may seem to some. I could happily grow old, watching my amazing children grow and make their own choices, retire in 18 years with Jeremy. We could go off to wherever and live in relative comfort. We could do easy. We could call it a day right now.
But there's a problem with that scenario.
God called us to do something else. And we would never be a happily ever after if we ignored that call. Not when we love Him so much.
And I can see in my minds eye getting on plane and traveling a long distance with a feeling that I feel right now, an excited breathless feeling. I can see picking up our baby for the first time, taking her away from the circumstances that she has had to go through. Giving her a home, loving her unconditionally, never letting her ever feel fear or pain or coldness again. We cant let that go now. Not when God has called us so strongly. Our hearts are already prepared to welcome her into our hearts, our home and our family. We have been called to go, we were called 11 years ago, and we will not ignore that calling.
God is waiting on us. He will accomplish His will no matter what we say. If we said no He would get His will done. And the blessing of a precious jewel, the blessing of helping other children through this adoption and our continued support through the agency, would go to someone more willing.
Thank you all for your prayers as we go through this process. Ill be updating as things happen. If you would like to help us raise funds for this adoption please like us on facebook. Ill have the page up this week.
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