Sticks and Stones

I just wanted to let everyone know that we have received one of the grants we applied for!  Along with a few other donations, you can see our thermometer is rising.  We still have two grants pending.  If we receive both of those, then all of the agency fees and travel fees will be covered.  Please pray with us that our applications will be looked upon favorably.  We are also still gratefully receiving donations from friends and family.  It is so nice to be reminded that there are some people around us who really "get" adoption.  They help when they can and are ready to welcome our children into their lives as well as ours.

Now I realize that adoption isn't for everyone...at least everyone may not be called to actually adopt a child.  I'm humbled and honored at the same time that we are getting to walk this road.  Recently, a friend took some of my bracelets to work to sell as her way of trying to help us out.  She posted a small sign in the break room to let folks know that she had these bracelets for sale as a fundraiser for a friend's adoption.  Can you believe that folks actually took the time to assault her with negative questions and comments about our adoption?  "Why are they adopting if they don't have the money themselves?"  "Why are they adopting from another country?  There's plenty of kids here to adopt."  They made their disdain for us and/or for adoption so clear that she finally had to take the sign down and bring the bracelets back to me.  She did manage to sell 3 in spite of the chaos!

We've heard those questions, too.  Some people can ask with pure curiosity; others just want to stir something up.  Last week I received a comment on my blog about the Pinterest Party.  (I've already deleted it, so don't bother scrolling.)  My mind cannot fathom how a person can have so much free time on their hands to find a blog about a topic that doesn't interest them, spend their time reading it, and then spend their time formulating a comment that is meant to be venomous but instead reeks of ignorance.  At first I wanted to pick up the rocks she threw at me and throw them right back, but I realized she was more deserving of my pity because of the obvious bitterness in her heart.  Anyone who doesn't understand adoption (and especially anyone who feels the need to openly attack it) is really missing out on understanding one of the greatest mysteries of life: the gift of salvation.

According to Ephesians 1:5...

God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.  (NLT)

God adopted us into His family.  Not because He thought, "If I don't, who will"; not because He pitied us; not because it made Him look good.  He did it because it gave Him pleasure.  I know we will enjoy having M & V with us just as we have enjoyed Colton and Eli since they were born, but I also know that seeing us follow His example by adopting will bring pleasure to God as well...just as we would be pleased to see our kids grow up and follow in our footsteps.

Did you notice what else is addressed in this verse?  The cost of adoption.  I've lost count of how many people have asked us, "Why does it cost so much?"  I could go into great detail justifying some of the costs; other costs I do think are outright highway robbery.  Does it matter if I agree with the breakdown of the costs?  Some very uninformed people even refer to the cost as purchasing or buying children.  Call it purchasing, buying, paying fees, or paying ransom.  I don't really care what you call it. (It really doesn't matter what someone calls it.) The bottom line is that there is a cost involved:  money, time, lifestyle, persecution, being treated as weird, cramped living quarters, etc., etc.  It doesn't matter.  Look again at the verse.  What was the price God paid to adopt me?  He sent the only Son He had, knowing that He would be beaten, tortured, and killed.  Jesus Christ endured unimaginable humiliation, pain, and ultimately death just so I could be adopted.  Whoa!  Now that's a high price.  So, I'm not belly-aching about the cost.  Yes, it's expensive.  Yes, it has significantly increased since we first signed on for this ride.  It doesn't matter.  We will finish this.  Yes, we need some help to do it.  If you don't get that or don't agree with it, then you don't have to help. It's not a problem 'cause God's got this thing.  He will take care of it in His own perfect timing and in His own perfect way.