Sunday, November 6, 2011

Orphan Sunday

My prayer today:

Abba Father, I love you and give you thanks for first loving me.
Thank you for adopting me into your family as your child.
My heart cries out to you on behalf of all the chidren that remain without families to love and care for them.  Keep them safe - physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Show yourself as Father to them.  Hold them close and speak into their spirits that they are loved and wanted.  Give them hope for a future.
Continue to give us strength as we walk out the adoption of our children and bring many more families along with us.
Show me how to love more fully.
Show me how to demonstrate this love to others. 
I open my heart to you Lord.  Speak to me.  Guide me.
Thank you Jesus! 


 
 

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

National Adoption Month!

Have you ever celebrated adoption? 

Through the years I have observed several families be transformed by adoption.  I have seen their minds, hearts, lives, marriages, & families embrace the life adoption offers.

I still need to ask myself, 'Have I ever truly celebrated?  Have I honored adoption in a way that marks it as special?  Have I allowed the spirit of adoption to transform me?'

As my husband and I have started our walk through the adoption process, I have realized that I have much to learn about how I represent adoption & celebrate it with others.  One way that we can honor all those involved in creating a forever family is to use appropriate terms when talking about adoption issues.

I always want to honor my children's birth parents and using the terms birth mother & birth father instead of 'real' honors the relationship that they will always have with my children - this is true even if the birth parents are no longer living or we do not know who they are.  I desire to celebrate my children's beginnings!

Another way that I can honor our children & their journey through adoption is to honor their birth country.  Haiti is rich in history, art, & culture.  The people are hard working, generous, & they have persevered through many trials. 

During my first trip to Haiti, back in the summer of 1996, I fell in love.  I remember looking out the airplane window as we made our approach into Port au Prince.  WOW!  In that moment I felt at home.  Haiti and its' people are a treasure that the Lord has given to us.  When I contemplate the magnitude of this gift, I can't help but to celebrate!

How will you honor & celebrate adoption this month???