Ransomed

We learned pretty early in our adoption process that Annie has a close bond to an older foster sister where she is living.  Recently, I saw a blog post advocating for this older girl's adoption.  I feel so sad for this girl, who has waited longer than most for her own family and seems so loving towards the younger children she is around.  It is such a tragedy that all these children who have already lost so much now have a price on their heads. Through no fault of their own, these children now have a high dollar adoption fee that must be paid in order to ransom them.  In our broken world there are too many individuals and entities who are corrupt or are looking to take advantage of a child in a hopeless situation, so our worldly solution has resulted in a taxing, lengthy, stressful, and costly adoption process to try to keep things ethical.  But isn't that again a picture of the gospel...of our redemption in Christ?  Couldn't Jesus have skipped those 33 years on earth and avoided the pain, sorrow, and disappointment that came with it?  Did He have to pay the price with His life?

We so often dismiss Christ's death on the cross as if it is nothing, but then scoff at the money it takes to complete an adoption.

How much is your life worth?  Your child's?  What would you pay and what length would you go to pay it?  Jesus certainly didn't take the easy way out for us.  Orphaned children are the most vulnerable helpless beings on earth. There is absolutely NOTHING that they can do to get out of their situation.  They need a redeemer, just like we all need the Redeemer.



 Our family could have done a lot with the money we have spent over the years on adoption.  If you knew how much we'd spent, I'm certain it would SHOCK you.  It amazes me to think about it, and honestly I couldn't tell you how we did it.  The numbers don't add up, but somehow God provided.  When we first started the process in 2011, we didn't really consider private (domestic or international) adoption because of the financial aspect.  We already had 3 children we were raising and couldn't imagine saving large sums of money.  But God ended up calling us to face EVERY single fear and reservation we had about adoption in the 4 years we waited for Simon.  For us, the Lord required total surrender and when we finally did, we had our child in our arms within a week.

So how have we done it?

First and foremost, but the grace of God.  People in the adoption world not-so-lovingly refer to the "adoption fairies."  This is the spiritual warfare that attacks in the form of financial crises, including lost jobs, costly home or car repairs, illnesses or surgeries, and anything else that diverts planned adoption funds to other avenues.  It is a given as a Christian family that you will face more of these types attacks during an adoption.  

We have made sacrifices financially.  Brad drives a car older than our son, who will turn 14 this month.  We have passed up opportunities for vacations, fancy clothes, the latest electronics, and other luxuries that we could have afforded otherwise.  We have not invested this "extra" money in retirement or college saving accounts.  We certainly haven't chosen the comfortable or easy route by adding to our family through adoption.  Matthew 6:20 tells us "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven." There is nothing we could EVER buy that would be as rewarding as what adoption has done for our family.  We have been the lucky ones.  And the reality for children who don't grow up in families is heartbreaking.

Without adoption our son Simon would almost certainly not have received the medical care he has needed for his chronic ear infections or the intervention for his hearing loss.  Our daughter Annie, who is waiting for us, is 4 years old, but is the size of a small 1 year old.  These children aren't worried about whether they will have designer clothes or a trip to Disney World or a car when they turn 16.  These are first world luxuries.  Vulnerable children are worried about when their next meal will be.  In many parts of the world, survival is not a given, especially for orphans.  I have known multiple families in the adoption process whose child died of easily preventable or treatable causes before the family was able to complete the required steps to travel.  We have to know that God is in control, but time is not our friend in the adoption process.  There are always delays and hiccups and simply unexplained waits.  And sometimes these delays mean a child "ages out" and becomes ineligible to become legally adopted.  Know that vulnerable children who survive to adulthood do so without a personal advocate to ensure they receive the basic nutrition, nurturing, guidance, medical care, education, and life skills necessary to survive.

Mother Teresa said, "The poverty of being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for is the greatest poverty."

There are literally thousands of children in need of a family.  Their adoption paperwork is prepared, and they are patiently waiting their turn.  Could it be you God is calling to ransom them?