The Real Motivation

Now that were in the official process of international adoption and have announced it to many in our circle of friends, family, and co-workers very often we have been asked the simple question…..why? What led you to decide to adopt a child when you already have 3 of your own? Well, there are some basic and simple answers to that question. We want to help a hurting and abandoned child. We feel blessed that God has placed us in the United States and has provided for us so that we and every other family that makes at least 44K per year are in the top 1 percent of the World’s income. Bet you didn't know you might be a “1 percenter!” If you don’t believe me you can check your status here http://www.globalrichlist.com/. Also, we simply would like to have another child to love and welcome another daughter into our family.


 All of these reasons are true and good, but this is still not what lies at the heart and foundation for going on this journey of adoption. The heart of the matter is that we are also adopted children. That is, as believers in the Gospel of Jesus Christ we understand that we were once, because of our sin and rebellion, aliens, outsiders, children of wrath outside of the covenant family of God. The basic truth of the Gospel is that on the cross, Jesus in his substitutionary death lays the ground work for our adoption by the Father! We are not natural born children of God, but because of the cross, that which separated us from our Father has been taken out of the way. The wrath of God has been satisfied and we are adopted through Christ. Not only is adoption central to the gospel, but for God’s elect, this is has always been our destiny! “In love, he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.” Ephesians 1:5-6.


So for our family to adopt a child is to proclaim and live the Gospel and bring glory to the name of Jesus. The Gospel is a story of a Father with a heart for adoption. We hope, although imperfectly and fallibly, to live and breathe this message to our new daughter and to those in our community. “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” Romans 8:15