 John 1:12-13,”Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” We are adopted in the family of God through Christ. Such an honor is bestowed upon us. Many questions weigh in as I read this scripture verse. Does this mean, we should all start adopting orphans, neglected and homeless children in the need of family? Wouldn’t that be beautiful? But what if we do not feel called to adopt a child? Do we still have any role to play in adoption? 1 Corinthians 12:7: “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” As Christ follower, each one of us has Holy Spirit dwelling within us. While some may have been called to the specific role of adoptive parent, each one of us has a role to play. So what other roles God may have for us to play in adoption? Prayer Warrior Adopting family has their faith, conviction and discernment tested many times as they travel the long uncertain road to bring the child to forever home. By being a fervent prayer warrior, you can support and uplift these families. Foster care May be you are not called to adopt a child to be forever yours but you are called to provide a temporary home for a child. You can open your home to ‘fostering only’. Babysitter Adopting parents need to attend long training, welcome frequent house visitor such as case worker, lawyers etc. and run the household like everyone else. Many of my adopting friends have children of their own who need to be watched for. By babysitting their children, you can ease out some of their stress. Respite provider Babysitters for foster children need to meet strict guidelines. You can be trained to become a respite provider for foster child. It is helpful when the parents have to attend court dates or finish other adopting formalities. Meal provider Just like if you give birth to baby, you may be overwhelmed for couple of weeks adjusting with a new baby. Same is true with adoption. When a child arrives to new home of adopting parents, it is time of transition for child as well as for foster parent. By providing a meal in those adjustment days, you can be big help to the family. Errand runner Can you run errands on short notice? I have heard many locally adopting friends say that they get 1-2 hour to pick up a child once the call is made to place the child in foster care. It is hard to plan and prepare for a child, you know nothing about. You can help out the adopting parent by running quick errands for them when such call is made. Adoption fundraiser Adoption process is expensive and time consuming.You may have a God given talent which can potentially be utilized to help the adopting family. May be you are a gifted artist and craftsman. May be you are good at creating things or organizing events (e.g 3k/5k/10k race) which others may benefit from. You can play role in adoption fundraisers. James 1:27, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” Are you willing to seek and lead the role that God may have planned specifically for you in adoption?  About Nive Nive was born and raised in India. She has a degree in Civil engineering but she decided that developing software is much more fun, so she taught herself programming. Nive has been married for about a decade to her husband, Randy, a software architect. They are very blessed to live in the beautiful Texas hill country with their two kids. Born and raised as Hindu and redeemed by love of Christ a few years ago, Nive has a heart for culture and desire to make her redeemer known. She loves to cook, has a penchant for handmade crafty things and teaches her kids to serve in the community. You can find her food blogging at handfulofjoy and serving at playdate with a purpose. If you'd like to read more from this contributor, type her name in the search box on the top
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3 Comments
8/10/2014 11:50:06 pm
I love all these practical ideas. There are so many ways to be involved in adoption, even if you aren't adopting a child yourself. Thanks for the reminder to mirror God's love in this way! 9/5/2014 10:39:17 pm
Good pro-active points. Adoption is a huge part of our lives, we've adopted seven. First as foster and then as adoptive parents, I can attest that these would have all been welcome. 9/6/2014 01:13:34 am
Wonderful suggestions! While our family has not adopted, we are friends with many who have - and still more who do foster care...so we've been privileged to be a part of their lives in many of the ways you've listed. As the conversation about adoption has broadened in recent years, we have also found a place for ourselves "in adoption" by prayerful and gentle encouragement that adoption-minded parents remember that ethical adoption (one free from deception and corruption - and only ones in which the adoptive child has no living relatives who desire to raise him or her...poverty of the biological family should *never* be an excuse for adoption according to God's Word) is the only type that honors God. I think we often try to run with the fact that we are spiritually adopted as a reason for physical adoption, but the two are not the same. In fact, the only physical adoption we see in Scripture came from evil and sin (Pharaoh killing the infant boys) and we see that the adopted one still craved relationship with his natural family. It is so important to remember (in adoption and any other arena) that if we aren't conducting business according to God's express will, we are outside of that will. Leave a Reply. |
