Forever Grateful

Dec 15, 2024 | by The Fellowship

Last weekend, we celebrated the anniversary of our seven-year-old son’s family day when he was officially adopted as a member into our family. Each year on that day, we give glory and praise to God for fulfilling His promise to grow our family. For so many years, we longed and prayed for a child. Our adoption story is full of His faithfulness. And it was a journey that taught me the importance of waiting on God. It was an unforgettable lesson in how our Lord can be trusted -- and His ways and timing are perfect.

The Fellowship was so supportive during the process. We had a multitude of people praying for us each step of the way, especially our LIFE Group, the Prayer Team and friends as well as members of our family.  A huge blessing was the privilege of being mentored by a couple in this church who were known for their big hearts in promoting adoption to the congregation. As adoptive parents themselves, they spent time answering our questions and sharing their own adoption story. The husband also organized a race each year called Run4TheChildren that helped fund adoptions, including ours.

How amazed we were by God’s provision for the adoption!  He put it on the hearts of so many people to donate as well as help get us ready with items for our child.  As a teacher in the church’s weekday preschool, I was blessed by the parents of my students who raised money together. And the other preschool teachers blessed us with a wonderful baby shower. All of this was done while we were in that period of waiting expectantly for our child to be born.  

Prayer had led us to an adoption agency named Alternatives in Motion. This agency values, respects, and supports birth mothers. They offer counseling and support for the mothers while at the same time educating and caring for the adopting families. We have an open adoption and share photos of our growing boy with his birth mother. Her beautiful, selfless, and brave choice was our answered prayer … and we are forever grateful to her.

Each year that passes gives our son more understanding of what adoption means. This past year, we were thrilled by his sharing that he had been adopted twice.  He has gained the realization that God also adopts us into His family.

This year on his family day, we looked over a book of pictures that provides details about his adoption story. We reflected about meeting his birth mother and how her decision was so loving and brave …  and about how many people prayed for him to join us and then welcomed him into our family.  How much joy we experienced in telling him again about the special day in court when he officially became our son.  While surrounded by family and friends, we promised to always love him and care for him. He saw a picture from his dedication day at church and was excited to see Pastor Robert praying over him. Our verse chosen for him on his dedication day is Jeremiah 1:5a -- Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.  God had a plan for our young son to join us, and it has been so wonderful watching His plan unfold. 

The answered prayer that brought our son into our lives is such a beautiful reminder every day of our Father’s deep and unconditional love for us. Our prayers are heard and answered according to His good and perfect will. May His peace, love, and joy surround all of you this Christmas season. All glory to Him for He is good and faithful!

“… those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God …
the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.
And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”   The Spirit himself testifies
with our spirit that we are God’s children.
Romans 8:14-16