When an orphan becomes a daughter...

The title of this blog was something I read this morning in someone else's blog. They were talking about an experience they had seeing a friend adopting a baby into their family. When the nanny who had cared for this once neglected and forgotten child was received into her new parent's arms, their was an exchange of life as an orphan to a now beloved daughter.

Tears streamed down my face unexpectedly as I read those words.

This morning as I sat down to spend time with the Lord, I heard Him say, "I want you to read about adoption stories this morning." I went to a source I haven't looked at for awhile, the blogs Steven Curtis Chapman and his family keep. I used to follow them closely for a long time because of their hearts for adoption but hadn't in awhile. After reading this one I continued to search the website. Blog after blog I read and wept as these stories made the scriptures about God adopting us into His family become more real to me.

As I have been reading through the New Testament recently, adoption constantly comes up. I have always wondered if it is hard for parents to love adopted children the same as their naturally born. After reading the different stories I am convinced when those children are welcomed into healthy and whole families, there is no difference...the love is the same.

Adoption is an expensive and sacrificial process. The older children get, the harder it is for them to be adopted because of the issues they can sometimes bring with them emotionally, physically etc. A lot of time, love and energy goes in to raising up children, but especially in these situations because ways of thinking and behaviors have to be reversed and re-taught.

As I began to think about this and the scriptures that constantly talk about how God longs to bring us into His family I just sat in my chair and wept. Despite all our challenging attitudes and learned ways because of how life has been - He is still longing to adopt us into His family. His patience and love are never-ending in reshaping our thinking and transforming our hearts and lives. He sacrificed so much to adopt us into His family. He made a way for us to be His children, with every privilege and promise that comes with that.

As I sat and wept I couldn't even formulate words of thankfulness as the revelation of this great love went to an even greater depth in my heart.


Romans 5:8 "But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners."

Ephesians 1:5-6 "God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. This is what He wanted to do, and it gave Him great pleasure."

While we were in sin...that's when He made a great sacrifice to bring us to Him. How many people open up wide their arms to embrace you when you are steeped in the ugliness of your flesh?

I know Someone...He's waiting to embrace you and transform your life.