Adoption: You are the one rescued, this is all of the broken's story

These are the words of Ann Voskamp, author of One Thousand Gifts -- her story that changed mine -- and testimony-teller at A Holy Experience:

I just know that no one need adopt if they think they get to sign up to be some Savior White Barbie swooping into rescuing any abandoned child because the truth of it is:
You’re the one rescued — you can’t rescue anybody. You only get to hold on to the Rescuer. 

I just know that no one gets to mug for the camera with a flash of pearly whites and their newly adopted family without stepping into a story of trauma. The only way a family is made through adoption — is for someone to lose a family first. The only way anyone gets to adoption is through a door of loss and unless you fully feel the depth of that loss, the door you’re walking through leads to nowhere honest.

I just know there’s a whole lot I don’t know at all and no one ever brings home any new child, born or adopted, without pain. Children only come to us through pain — like love only comes to us with pain. 

They say that 77% of practicing Christians believe Christians have a responsibility to adopt, but only 5% of Christians have adopted — and I get why it’s tempting to think you shouldn’t adopt and someone else should and I get the choking fears and I get the questions that won’t stop haunting and I get that supporting adoption doesn’t mean that we’re all called to adopt because caring for orphans looks different for each of us, but it has to look like something —  and I never stop getting over how Jesus left the 99 for the 1 and the whole focus of our Father is fighting for orphans, making them sons and daughters. 

God searched for you, found you, fought for you, signed the papers with His blood and He adopted you and brought you Home –and the only way any of us get into the family of God is through the most painful adoption. 

If real belief cares for the orphans — can one be a believer and not be caring for at least one orphan in some small way? 

Adoption is all of the broken’s story. 

We’re all sort of a different kind of the same kind of broken.

Full post here.

counting the graces

thank you, I can't thank you enough
the Lord is near to the broken-hearted and saves the crushed in spirit
I sought the Lord and he answered me, he delivered me from my fears
many are the afflictions of people who live God's way, but the Lord delivers them out of them all
none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned
for the ever-failing, recovering perfectionist, Jesus is my perfect.  it's better that way -- liberation
loving friends
we finished our study of 1 John, and it was a rich, satisfying, and life-changing year
brothers & sisters want to drive us out to our new house when we move
for the strength you supply to Drew, carrying heavy stress at work and handling it like a champion
for how much Titus has learned and grown this year in first grade, his wonderful attitude
for forgiving me when I'm mean, strict & too results-focused
all the good news from Minnesota home & family
your VOICE OF TRUTH
leading us to release...