I have always wanted to be a mother. Since I was a little girl, I couldn't wait to raise children in a Godly household full of love and joy. I have always wanted to be a mother, but I have never wanted to have children.
So many people double take when I boldly announce that one day I will be a parent, but that I have no desire to bear children of my own. This idea seems ludicrous and I can see on their faces the reaction to my strange proclamation. "She does know where children come from, right? Surely she doesn't believe in the stork!" No no, of course at nearly 30 years old, I am no stranger to the truth about conception. Since I was a child, however, I have been acutely aware of the needy children of this world that are without stable and loving families. My heart bleeds for the children caught up, by no fault of their own, in a foster system that disregards children of a certain age due to limited resources and overcrowding. For these reasons, I have an extreme desire and calling to adopt children, specifically older children of preteen and teen age.
We know that the Bible calls for us all to be fruitful and multiply and although many translate this as "bear children and establish a family" this can mean anything from multiplying kindness, bringing many to the kingdom of God, creating a community that helps those in need, and yes, even raising a family. Adoption is no doubt part of our call to being fruitful and multiplying the great glory of God. Here's a few verses about adoption straight from the Bible:
"He ensures that orphans and widows receive justice. He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing." – Deuteronomy 10:18 (NLT)
God does not forget about orphans, in fact He cares so much about them, that He seeks to give them justice (and how I read it, the good things that they have missed out on). He wants them to be taken care of because they are His above all else.
"Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you." – James 1:27 (NLT)
Here, James's inspired words are specifically telling us that God has tasked us as Christians to be the ones that care for those without families for Him. We honor God by being His hands and feet on the earth!
"Father to the fatherless, defender of widows— this is God, whose dwelling is holy. God places the lonely in families; He sets the prisoners free and gives them joy." – Psalm 68:5-6 (NLT)
A great reminder that God is father to us all. We don't have to be blood to love and guide a child. We can love them because they are made by God and as worthy as all of us to be loved.
“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’" –Matthew 25:40 (NLT)
It honors God when we take care of His people. We are not doing it to get recognition in this world or to gain fame and adoration from others. We are doing it in the name of Jesus to glorify God and to show others the character of the one we serve. If we are his representation, we need to live it out, not just in our words, but in our actions.
