If No Were an Option

Opening my heart, opening my home, opening my life.  Sharing with someone, who promises nothing, everything.  Knowing pain is the only possible outcome and saying "yes" anyway.

She is addicted and pregnant.  He is addicted and scared.  They know they should stop, but they can't.  The hold the drugs and alcohol have on them is too strong.  IF they get help, there could be criminal charges, court dates, and child protective services.

When we got that call.  The call that changed everything, again.  We knew taking in this little guy could be a mission God would use us for.  All of the excuses:  It's too hard, I get too attached, how could I give him back...won't work this time, God is asking, I am responding.

I respond to the sweet baby love that he gives, but I respond to the broken pain that his parents have.  My heart breaks and I pray.  Then I ask others to join me.  God works.  In this situation, the parents are healing, learning, and preparing.  They will one day be the family God intended.

What if I said "no."  I don't know and can never know if they would still be as able to get this far in the program if I wasn't praying, but maybe they would, but maybe they wouldn't.  What if they didn't.  What if they lost their baby to the social system and returned to the life they had been living.

Then, what if I went before the Lord to give an account of my life and God said to me, "What happened here?  Why didn't you take care of my people?  Why didn't you help them like I wanted you?"

What would I say to that?  What answer could I give?  Could I say, "It's too hard?  Or I get too attached?"

I must, I am compelled, and now I am blessed because the Lord has allowed me to part of this healing process.  I was rewarded with a new family.  I may not get to adopt a baby, but I do get a sister and brother in the Lord.  I will not look the other way and pretend nothing is happening when there is something I can do.
Proverbs 24:11 - 12

rescue those being led away to death;

    hold back those staggering toward slaughter.

If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,”

    does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?

Does not he who guards your life know it?

    Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?

Have an Answer

A common question when someone talks about adopting internationally is, "why go so far when there are so many needy kids here at home."

During a recent conversation, that question came up.  Not as it applied to me, but the general information was needed.  I knew the answer.  I knew the economic answer, the religious answer, the politically correct answer. I knew them all and was able to talk all about the subject without really stopping to think.  It was automatic.  That is a sure sign that giving this piece of information is not new.  I was able to categorize each question and answer in order to help aid in understanding.  (I can discuss the pro's and con's in another note.)

After this conversation, though, I realized that, in this instance, I had a ready answer.   I knew.  I didn't have to search my brain.  It was right there.  I realized that God has asked us to always be ready to give an answer when asked about our faith in Jesus.  I always thought that I had a pretty good answer, but now that I have the adoption questions to compare it to, I feel like I am not truly doing as God has asked.  Knowing the answer for my faith will take a lot more work and a humble heart ready to be taught.  I realize now that having an answer means that I am able to recall the information easily as I did before.  I also realize that to be able to recall the information, I need to have "put it in" by reading His word.

1 Peter 3:15

New International Version (NIV)

 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,