Vacation. Just the mere word brings about a bit of relaxation doesn't it? My family and I just got finished with a week of vacation and much of it was spent in the green grassy hills of Kentucky. I have some family there and most of them haven't met Jude so it was the perfect destination.
Time for a little background.
My aunt and uncle adopted 3 kids. Sarah the blue-eyed future auctioneer (it's dizzying how fast she talks), Josh who can do practically anything, and Marina who I affectionately call Natasha because, well she's Russian and that's comedy.
Now, I have to admit that I'm fascinated with these kids not just because they are family but also because they come from such a different background into our crazy family.
I tried to make it a point to spend time with each of them while we were there and pick their brains a little bit. I discovered so much about each of them. I'm not entirely sure that putting their information in this public format is appropriate, but it was quite eye opening. Just the idea of adoption brings up so many questions. What was life like before? What do you miss about where you came from? How did you come to the idea of adoption? Do you still keep in touch with family? Are you thinking about adopting in the future? I kept rolling over these questions in my head because adoption had seemed so distant from me. Then it sort of hit me... it's not.
Romans 8:14-17
"14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory."
I have to understand that I too am adopted by God, and if I could have the sort of relationship with Him that my 3 cousins have with their parents then I'd be doing something right.
I had many times heard people say they understood how much God loved them when they had a child. I agree with that statement to some degree, but I have to add that for me that revalation came after we completed our first adoption. To look at my daughter and know that she is loved and valued just the same as my biological chidren gave me a new perspective on the verse that says we are co-heirs with Christ.
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