Adoption Awareness Month

Did y'all know that last Sunday was Orphan Sunday? 'cause it was. 

I have been MIA lately for numerous reasons and it kills me. School is killing me this year with the stress of college and my future on the horizon, I feel as if I am going crazy somedays. The other reason is I just am at a loss as to what to post. I am going to try and work on that so I am not so neglecting of my poor website. Oh, and we had family pictures made! Yay! 

November is orphan awareness month and that hits close to home for my family and I. Thanks to SWW I spend many days and nights advocating for the 'Least of These', most of us have been blessed by adoption, and I KNOW the difference adoption makes in the life of a child.

My heart is for the orphan. I stepped off of an airplane in Beijing China in 2007 and right there God broke my heart for what breaks His, the orphan. Millions of little faces who are hungry, destitute, and desperate for love. These children wrecked my world. These children forever changed me. Because of some very precious children, my life will never, ever be the same.

I have looked in to the eyes of children who have no hope. Who's only hope is either adoption or the day they meet Jesus. I have met children who live worse than any animal ever should, much less a human. I have kissed heads, snuggled, prayed over, and loved the orphan. Because of that, I'm a mess. I'm ruined and I can't go to sleep at night without remembering certain little ones who live in my heart.

See, the truth is there are 163 million orphans in the world. At first glance this number is overwhelming, but the truth is if only 8% of people who claimed to be Christians cared for one Orphan, there wouldn't be any statistics left. If that doesn't break your heart, i'm not sure what will. Some may be thinking "just one? how can that make a difference for millions?" and it won't make the change for the other millions, but it will change the world for one….and that's enough.  Many people ask my family all the time, 'Why did you adopt when you can have your own?' 'How can you love an adopted child like your own?' 'They don't look like you' and all of their questions are valid, not always nice, but I try to be gracious when answering. A common misconception in today's world is that God asks us in a kind-only-if-you-want-to way to care for the orphans when in actuality, God commands we care for the orphans. It isn't questionable or able to be interpreted in different ways. GOD LOVES the orphan. God COMMANDS we do the same. (See James 1:27) So, no our family isn't 'Wonderful' for bringing these children home, it's quite the opposite. These children have blessed us beyond our imagination. We didn't adopt to show off, or for publicity, or for any other reason but to honor God and His calling for our life.

Adoption and orphan care is the most life-changing and amazing experience in my life so far. Is God calling you to GO, to love, or maybe to adopt? Is something holding you back? Don't let fear keep you from loving, helping and answering His call. I promise you won't regret it.