Very Much Their Own

Tom and Sally Thompson had been married for seven years.  Despite all their attempts, starting a family seemed to be impossible for them.  They finally made the call to begin the adoption process.

After about fourteen months of applications and home studies and reference checks, the phone rang.

“Hi Sally, this is Nina.  I have some good news for you.  I received a call just about an hour ago that there is a baby who was just born.  The mother wishes to remain anonymous, but she described the couple she wanted to adopt her child.  I have already talked to the legal department and the papers have been signed.  If  you’re in agreement, would you and Tom please meet me at my office this afternoon at 1:00?”

Of course, Sally nearly fainted; her silence was typical.  They had been told to expect the process to take at least three to four years.  Her thoughts went wild … diapers, crib, clothes, nursery, car seat, lotions.  She couldn’t stop.  Suddenly, she thought to respond to this precious woman who had worked closely with them to find a baby for them.

“Oh, I’m so sorry!  I just had a rush of thoughts I couldn’t hardly comprehend!  It’s so soon!  We’re not ready!  But, yes … we’ll be there at 1:00.  That doesn’t give me a lot of time, but we’ll pick up some diapers and a few things before we get to the office.  Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you!”

Nina had become a good friend as well as their adoption worker.  She absolutely loved these phone calls when the years of dreaming and longing finally came to an end by putting a little bundle of life in the arms of loving couples.

“You’re so welcome.  But, don’t you want to know anything else?”

“I’m so excited I forgot to even think!  Do we have a boy or a girl?  When was the baby born?  Is our child healthy?  Oh, that doesn’t matter, just tell me if we need to buy blue or pink!”

“You’re so delightful, Sally!  Let me give you some quick details and I’ll get off here so you can get ready.  Joshua Allen is three days old; he weighs 8 pounds and has a full head of black hair.  His mother is a college student and wanted to make sure he was raised in a Christian family.  I know I can’t discriminate, but she reminds me so much of you that I just knew this would be a perfect match.  Joshua is healthy and suffered no abnormalities from birth; his mother took good care of herself and had regular prenatal visits and monitoring.  Both the mother and father have signed all the paperwork; the mother’s parents hired an attorney to make sure there were no loopholes and the baby and his adoptive parents would be protected from any future challenges to custody.  But, we’ll go into all this when you both come to the office.”

“I still can’t believe my ears.  I’m crying; forgive me!”

“Fully understandable.  I’ll let you call Tom and give him the news.  See you at 1:00!”

“We won’t be late.  Thank you so much!”

“My pleasure; goodbye.”

Sally hung up the phone; her hands were shaking so much she could barely stand. 

Lord, help me to calm down and think straight.  I can’t thank You enough for such a blessing.  You’re amazing!  Bless our little boy, his mom and dad, and all who had a part in the decision to allow us to adopt.

Suddenly, she remembered she needed to call her husband.  Taking a deep breath, she began to dial his number.  The phone rang once … twice … three times …

“Hello!”

“Tom!  Tom!  You’re never going to believe this.  Can you get away from work, like right now?”

“What on earth for?  What’s going on?”

“Tom, we’ve got a baby!  I mean we have a son and we have to meet Nina at her office at 1:00.  We’ve got so much to do.  Can you…”

Before she had a chance to go on, Tom interrupted.  “I’ll be home as soon as possible.  Oh, baby!  I’m so excited!”

“I know…this is so incredible!”

“Ok, let me get off here and tell my boss I won’t be in for the rest of the day and see if I can get a couple days off.”

“Awesome!  See you in a few…”

“Love you, baby!”

“Love you, too.  Bye!”

Tom was home within a half hour.  After crying and hugging in unbelief, they grabbed the checkbook and ran out the door.  While Tom drove, Sally made a list of immediate necessities.  In and out of stores, the next few hours seemed to pass unbelievably quickly.  With the trunk full of diapers and blankets and all the necessities, they headed off to Nina’s office.

After sitting and learning all about their new son, meeting the attorney, signing the papers, and chattering incessantly, the moment they had waited for finally came … Tom and Sally’s arms were finally filled with a little life to love and cherish; a son of their very own.

The new family bonded quickly and the home was filled with excitement as the little one grew every day. 

No more longing.  No more desperation.  No more emptiness. 

The family was complete.

* * *

Many of you can relate to Tom and Sally’s excitement.  Finally, after years of trying to conceive, constant testing, unsuccessful procedures and treatments, their arms were filled with a child not their own yet still very much their own.

Adoption is such a perfect parallel of God’s yearning to love us and parent us and call us His very own. 

He sought us out.  He embraced us even before we were born.  And, one day according to His sovereign plan, He made us His own by signing an “Adoption Decree” in the blood of His most precious Son.

If you can fathom the anticipation Tom and Sally felt when they knew little Joshua would soon be theirs, perhaps you can get a glimpse of the anticipation our Father felt when He watched the blood of Jesus spill out … the blood of covenant, the seal of love for a people not His own yet still very much His own.

Adoption is more than merely a mom and a dad filling their home with children they didn’t give birth to … adoption is a mirror image, a perfect picture of our Father’s love toward us all.

The next time you see a family built through adoption, think about how much our Father loves us.  And, if you’re an adoptive parent, consider your own love toward your child and know the Father’s love far exceeds anything we, in our mortal bodies, could comprehend.

Paul prayed in Ephesians 3:14-21:  “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” 

© 2008 Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

Comments

[Terri]

I have given my life witness at several women's retreats, my journey back to my faith brought on by the adoption of my beautiful little girl. I would like to share my favorite quote by an unknow author, that sums up how blessed I am to have my baby:

I shall never forget, I shall always remember, this very moment, when life began new, my heart beat true, my precious love is born.

Love and God Bless!

[lisa sperou turner]

I am an adoptee from the age of 3 months. I've experienced abortion-against my will. Iv'e been a single Mom. I am in touch with my birth family. there is much to say about this. I was widowed at 31.and a single mom again. I volunteer at a resource pregnancy center and before that a crisis pregnancy center. I have quite a few wonderful stories to tell. I have been living with hiv/aids for atleast 20 years. God's sovereignty has been so great. I can call aids a blessing. I've been to china on a missionary trip with people who arrange over seas adoptions. My cousin adopted 2 little boys from Russian orphanages. Both had horrific stories. I might be interested in taking over this adoption topic if no one else has. i am currently enrolled in3 bible studies at church and have completed many and have taught several. I would like feedback and prayer as to whether I am the one for this position thankyou. Godbless