What Adoption Has Taught Me About God’s Grace

In March of this year, I got a new sister. She was almost 16 years old. And she radically changed my life.

Fida has changed the way our family talks, the way we hang out, definitely the amount we know about Albania!… And she has given us such a beautiful picture of what God’s love for us looks like.

John 1:12 says, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name…”

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While I can’t imagine what it must have felt like for my sister to leave her country and learn to become part of a new family, the Bible tells me that I have experienced a spiritual adoption into God’s family. And Fida has helped me to understand that.

She has reminded me…

1.…that God’s love for me is boundless.

Adoption always comes with struggles and unimagined difficulties. From the paperwork to the home study to the changes in the family to struggles to adapt culturally, adoption can be hard. My parents, though, have shown Fida so much love through it all.

My parents, hanging out with Fida in Albania
My parents, hanging out with Fida in Albania

They spent 8 weeks in a country they had never been, appeared in court, filled out miles of paperwork, and are actually still filling out miles of paperwork because they love Fida so deeply. They desperately wanted to bring her into our family, and they were willing to sacrifice greatly to do that. Every day, they are still showing Fida love as she is trying to adjust.

And Jesus did even more to bring us to Him. Hebrews 12:2 says that Jesus, “who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross…” He found joy in death and turmoil because He knew it would bring us to Himself, that we could connect with our Creator again. And He continues to love us every day. As we are learning, growing, and sometimes fighting against His perfect plan for us, He patiently loves and cares for us through it all.

2. … that I am fully accepted.

Fida lived for 15 years in a different country in a different part of the world with a different lifestyle and a different culture. She is surprised by things we do and we are surprised by things she does. Yet accepting her as part of our family is a foregone conclusion. No matter what she does, she is still my sister and she is still my parents’ daughter. Our job is to help her, to teach her, but never to reject her, because she is family.

Our family
Our family

Sometimes, I think we think of God’s adoption of us as just one sweeping gathering of people — that we are just one of the masses. But God chose me and He chose you individually. He knows us deeply, with all of our quirks and all of our struggles. God doesn’t have to get to know us, but He does accept us, exactly as we are. Then from there, He teaches us to grow.

John 6:37 says, “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.”

3. …that we are children of God.

Now that Fida is a part of the family, she is no different than the other parts. My dad teases her and pulls her hair. My mom chats with her while she cooks. Fida does chores and homework and watches movies and plays games. She is fully my sister and my parents’ daughter.

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Sisters!

Just like us. I mentioned already that John said in chapter 1 that we were given the right “to become children of God.” We aren’t just God’s servants, we aren’t just His students, we are His children. So fully His children, in fact, that we are heirs!

Romans 8:14-19 says,

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”

Adoption here on Earth is a beautiful thing that changes every life involved. But it is nothing compared to the adoption that God wants for every person here on the Earth. On our own, we are hopeless, destitute, and wallowing in our sins, but He offers us a way to become sons of God through the sacrifices He made here on Earth.

As I am getting to know Fida and adjusting to our family’s new normal, I have the opportunity to understand that more deeply every day.

 

Share your story! What is something in your life that reminds you constantly of God’s love and grace?

 

Linking up on Titus 2 Tuesdays, Project Inspired, Thought Provoking Thursdays, Grace & Truth, and Faith Filled Fridays!

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13 comments

  1. how great your parents’ hearts! a super gift to you all and a way to show Christ to our world and hers. next to you at Thought PF this fine Fall afternoon in CA – not too far from AZ. (:

    1. My parents do, indeed, have amazing hearts! I have been so challenged by their love and sacrifice through all of this. They are trusting God through each step in a very big way (even when it’s hard). Thanks for stopping by, neighbor! 🙂

  2. WOW! This got me into tears Meredith!
    I love how you connected your sister’s entry into the family with our Adoption into the family of Christ!
    I so enjoyed your honesty and I could feel your heart from this post.
    You are blessed, fellow worker in Christ.

    1. Thank you so much! I am constantly amazed by how God can use so many things in our lives to teach us more about Him, and this has been one of the most beautiful lessons for me.

  3. This is beautiful, Meredith. I love the parallel you made here between your sister’s adoption and our adoption by our Heavenly Father. Thanks for sharing on Grace and Truth.

    1. Thank you! And thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts : ) I love thinking about the amazing fact that God truly adopted us into His family. It is such a blessing!

  4. Thank you so much for sharing your family’s beautiful adoption story. There are blessings all around for your family and for Fida.

    I realized that I am one of those people that tends to look at God’s adoption as “in the masses” rather than individually as a precious daughter of the King.

    Thank you for reminding me that I was chosen by God to be His adopted daughter. So much encouragement.

    I leave here edified. 🙂

    1. Sorry to respond so late to your comment, but I am so glad that you were edified! I certainly was encouraged by the truth in God’s Word as I was writing it. Isn’t it amazing that God chose each of us specifically? It’s just one of those things about Him that I can’t quite wrap my mind around and that brings me to my knees in awe and gratitude every time I think about it.

  5. Thanks for the sweet encouragement. My husband and I are in the thick of the waiting stage of adoption and your post reminded me again of why we are doing this. Be blessed!

    1. Oh, I know that waiting process is so long and so hard. I am stopping right now and praying for you and your husband, that you would see God’s hand working through your whole adoption and that He would just bless the process!

  6. Thank you for such a beautiful post! My husband and I are praying about adopting someday (we already have four biological children), so this is near to my heart. I love the perspective you offer as a sister!

    1. It is so exciting to see how God leads people toward adoption! I want you to know that I’m stopping and praying for you right now that God will make His will really clear to you about if and when you should adopt, and that if He leads that way, you will see His hand working in the whole process.

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