It's Not About You

The pastor at my church asked me to speak to the congregation about adoption...

"I'm hear to talk to you about something.  It's something I am passionate about so I'm going to forewarn you that I sometimes get a little fierce when I talk about something I'm passionate about.  So please don't get offended.

Four years ago today, February 20th, I met Reuben for the very first time.

I need to tell you that adoption is not about you.  It's about children who need you to give them a family.  It's about children all over the world and children right here in your state.  Children need you.

You're going to tell me that your house is too small or your car is too small or your savings account is too small.  I'm going to tell you, it's not about you.

You might even tell me you're done having children.  Yeah, that's what we said.  We got rid of everything, all our baby stuff.  We were done.

But then last November God nudged Paul and Paul thought, "Maybe we should adopt again."  He even called our adoption agency to find out about adopting again, hoping it would be quicker, easier, cheaper.  It's not.  But he didn't say anything to me about this.

Two weeks later, God nudged me, "Maybe we should adopt again.  There are still kids out there who need a family.  We are a family.  We should adopt."  I immediately mentioned to Paul, "I think we should adopt again,"  fully expecting him to say something like, "We're done.  We did that.  No."

But he didn't.  He said, "Okay, let's look into it."  Later, he told me about God prompting him and how he had called our adoption agency.

Seeking God's guidance here, we prayed and read the Bible over the next couple of weeks.

Then I came to James 1 where it says, "Religion that God our father accepts as pure and faultless is this:  to look after orphans."  Okay, I'd read that before.  But then I read a few verses before that.  "Do not merely listen to the word.  Do what it says."  Ahh!  The Bible says to look after orphans.  Don't just read that, do that.

So we did.

We were comfortable with our little family of four, but God reminded us that there is a child, so many children, who are not comfortable.

God, we don't have the money to do this.  Guess what?  We obeyed Him in faith that he would provide for us and He has.  Some friends had a yard sale and surprised us by giving us the money from it.  Another person, another day, surprised us with a gift of $1000.  And the U.S. government surprised us this year by making us eligible for a tax refund from Reuben's adoption.

Adoption is not about you.  God tells us to look after orphans.

Back during that time when "we were done having kids," we became adoption advocates.  We're done adopting, but let's encourage others to adopt.  We have traveled around our state with Show Hope, encouraging people to help orphans.  I guess we were pretty good advocates because we encouraged ourselves back into it.

But what I'm saying is, you can help Show Hope help families adopt orphans.  Show Hope raises money and then gives it to families who are adopting - to help them with the adoption expenses.  They gave us $4000 to help with Reuben's adoption.  They gave my brother's family a grant too.

You can help a child join a family by giving to Show Hope.  It's not about you.  It's about helping the helpless.  They need you.

One more thing.  Perhaps you wish there was no such thing as abortion.  You know what can help a woman choose life for her child?  Giving her the option of adoption.  Reuben's birthmom could have chosen to terminate her pregnancy, like so many birthmoms do.  But she knew that there was a family willing and waiting to love and care for her son.

Adoption is not about you.  Please, "Do not merely listen to the word.  Do what it says.  Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:  to look after orphans."