The Call to Adopt

In 2006, my husband and I began to feel a nudge in our hearts to pursue adoption. Although I had two difficult pregnancies and suffered two pregnancy losses, our desire to adopt was not a matter of infertility.  Instead, we saw this an opportunity to serve God; a very special calling to care for the widows and the orphans (James 1:27).

We begin to pray about where to even begin the search for our daughter. We were open to anywhere but I secretly hoped it would not involve travel. Especially, far away travel, say to a place like China.

God’s Sense of Humor

Proverbs 16:9 states, “The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps,” or as the old Yiddish proverb put it, “we plan God laughs.”

As it turns out, China is exactly where God sent this anxiety-ridden woman to met her new child. This woman, who once swore she would never, ever fly on an airplane, now realized her “yes” to this mission from God meant boarding an airplane, not once, but seven times.

Every Grace We Needed

God did not just call me to this unexpected but beautiful plan to expand our family, but generously provided the necessary strength and courage to follow through. God provided all the grace I needed to continue even though the very thought of what we were about to do produced very real and sometimes severe panic attacks.

God’s grace did not remove my fear but instead instilled within my heart the courage and strengthen move forward in spite of them.  Courage is doing the scary despite the fear.

The Heart of the Matter

The root of word courage is the Latin “cor” which means “heart.” The heart is the core of the soul, it is where our emotions are stirred. Courage, also known as fortitude, enables one to conquer fear, even fear of death [you know, like from fiery plane crashes], and to face trials (Catechism, 1808, brackets added).  

“Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4).

Purpose and Plan for Your Life

I have no doubt as God formed and knitted me in my mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13), he placed the desire to adopt upon my heart. Then when it came time to fulfill that desire, He filled me with all the courage, by way of His grace, needed to accomplish it.  

Points to Ponder:

What plan does it feel the Lord is placing upon your heart? Do you feel prepared to trust in His unfathomable and generous grace to achieve or recieve it?