Verse of the Day

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

My Soap Box

I wish I could take all the credit for the following few paragraphs, but I can't. I found this on another adoption blog called "Blessings from Ethiopia" It was so beautiful, I changed it up a bit and posted it here:


We are often asked WHY? Why would you adopt FOUR kids? How can you raise SEVEN (or ELEVEN, if you count your husband’s older children)?
Why would we do this? Do you even know how old you are??? Why devote our lives to this "cause" (if you can truly even call it that)?
Here's why:
Because if we claim to be disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, WE ARE ADOPTED, too. Adopting a child is such a beautiful example of what our Lord does for us when we become children of God.
Because we are not our own; we believe that this life is not all there is. We are not here to simply pursue our own agendas, or our own dreams. We are here to be servants of our Lord. We are attempting to align our dreams and aspirations with the vision He has for us. He asks us to take care of the orphans and the widows in the world, and to go out and make disciples of all nations
Because we believe that in the end, it won't matter what career ladders we climbed, what financial investments we made, or what gadgets we could afford. It will matter that four lives were saved.
Because we have seen hopelessness firsthand in Ethiopia and Guatemala (and elsewhere), but believe we are to extend hope to those He puts in our reach… knowing each child is made in the image of God.
Because we believe that the orphaned street child who plays soccer on the rough pavement of the streets of Addis Ababa or Guatemala City is no less valuable to the Creator than the polished child on a suburban soccer team here in America.
Because we see nothing more worthy of our focus, time, resources, and lives.
Because injustice is wrong.
Because mercy is right.
Because we know that, while adoption is not the solution in and of itself to the world’s 143 million orphans, we have seen with our own eyes how it rescues those who can be adopted.
Because we are to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Praying for someone to be well fed clothed, and comforted is not enough. We are to feed the hungry. We are to clothe the naked. We are to bring the poor into our homes. We are to comfort the suffering and hopeless. Faith without works is dead. Prayer without appropriate, necessary action is not complete.
Because we know that, if it were our own flesh and blood abandoned and starving, we would want someone to love them and call them family, too.
Because these kids are no different from your own. Not at all.
Because it's just not okay with us to say “no” to a child who needs a home when we have one.
Because it's just not okay with us to say “no” to a child who needs a family when we have one.
Because it's just not okay with us to say “no” to a child who needs room to thrive when we have room and can make room.
Because it's just not okay with us to do nothing.
Because it won't be okay for them if we do nothing.

2 comments:

  1. I love this too Kristen! I know where you found it.....it's on Blessings From Ethiopia Blog..........Heidi wrote it.....

    It really hits the nail on the head,....thanks for sharing it again!

    Blessings,
    Chris

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