"[Jesus] said to all of them, 'Those who want to come with me must say no to the things they want, pick up their crosses every day, and follow me. Those who want to save their lives will lose them. But those who lose their lives for me will save them. What good does it do for people to win the whole world but lose their lives by destroying them?'" -Luke 9:23-25
This morning, I had the privilege of witnessing the officiating of 32 adoptions...one of them was a teenaged orphan now the forever daughter of a sweet family that has been such an inspiration to ours. Like us, they haven't experienced smooth sailing. They bravely said "Yes" to the unknown, choosing to walk by faith and not by sight. And because of this choice, they've had to face some mighty storms over the past two years that threatened to sink their hearts. Praise God that He prevailed!
Sitting there, listening to their testimony, as well as the other mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers proclaim their love for children that they chose to call their family, was the perfect healing salve for my own broken heart.
We have been battered by our fair share of storms, Loo. Each member of our family has had to face a daily dying to ourselves. It's so easy to get caught up in the carrying of our crosses that we tend to forget why we ever picked them up in the first place. Adoption is not easy. For anybody. But it has brought my heart the closest to Jesus' than anything I've ever experienced before. The mercy, the grace, and the love that He calls us to and equips us to extend to you is the very same mercy, grace, and love He extends to us. It's not natural. It's not earned. It's rarely deserved. And it's powerful.
God has taken root in your heart and the fruit of His Spirit blossomed these past few weeks. You came to us after hearing a sermon on the importance of forgiveness in families and courageously asked for ours. We were so overwhelmed by His Joy...forgiveness has always been yours, Sweet Girl, but for Jesus to allow us to be a part of that moment?! Incredible. Then, to hear you follow up that request with your voiced desire to be baptized?! Who are we that God would handpick us to be your Mom and Dad? Willing and honored--that's who <3
