Take Root and Write

Abba Avinu

 
“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15 KJV)

Abba Avinu (ab-ba ah-VEE-nu) … Daddy, Dear Father.

Abba Avinu has brought us out of bondage into His glorious freedom by the Spirit of adoption.  This  scenario is played over and over again as parents reach out to embrace an innocent child, bringing them out of bondage into the glorious freedom of being part of a family by the principle of adoption.  Once again, we see Adoption as “The Perfect Picture” of love between Abba Avinu and His children.

It is a profound truth that many of our laws are based on principles found in the Word of God.  From early in man’s history, adoption was an accepted form of rescuing abandoned children by loving adults who would bring them into their home and make them one of their very own.  Equal rights.  Equal inheritance.  Equal love.

When we went through the adoption process with our three older children, the Judge made a point of making sure we understood that our adopted children were to be treated the same as our biological children, granting them the same rights, inheritance, and opportunities in life.  He distinctly told us there was to be no difference, and if we couldn’t follow through with that, he would not sign the final decree.
Standing before a Judge and witnesses, we sore an oath … not so much before man but before God that our adopted children were now our children, every wit ours.  Even at their ages (11, 12, and 15), they took our last name and became Rosses.  Their past lives were erased from the court records and their new lives as our children and siblings of our biological children began that very same day.

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. 

Resemblances

“One thing I know for sure, she’s your daughter.  Her teeth are just like yours!”

The dentist took off his mask and explained that little Julie had several cavities that needed attention before her orthodontic work could begin.  Jacque smiled and thanked the dentist, helped her daughter gather her things and walked out to the reception desk to set the appointment.

Since they lived close and the weather was so nice, they walked home that day with the usual mother-daughter chatter. 

“Mom, does Dr. Greene know I’m adopted?”

“I thought he did, but obviously he doesn’t.”  Jacque was smiling in her heart.  It wasn’t often that people commented on the likenesses shared between her and Julie simply because there was no basis for it.  They were two individual people with no commonality except the last name they shared.  But something must have made Dr. Greene say that.  Could Julie really resemble me?

The mere thought of family resemblance thrilled Jacque.  She had so desperately wanted children. Yet years of marriage passed without even so much as a late cycle.  Nothing seemed to work.  Jacque and John had spent most of their savings going to doctors only to learn there was no physical reason for them not to conceive.  It was just not meant to be.

The more years that passed, the harder it became for them.  Jacque and John’s siblings all had families – some of them were rather large.  Yet, their little nest was empty.  Finally, after nearly twelve years of disappointments, they made the decision to adopt. 

Their experience was like so many others ... healthy babies were hard to come by.  But one day they got the call; Julie became their long-awaited blessing.  Their family was complete.

Jacque and July giggled the rest of the way home, delighting in the fact that they were family and Dr. Greene was clueless.  Julie was indeed Jacque’s daughter.

Like a Seed Planted

“What do I call you?”

“Whatever you’re most comfortable with, dear.”

“I can’t call you ‘Mom’ or ‘Dad’.  Guess I’ll figure it out.”

Joey, who just turned twelve years old, walked out to the car and got in the back seat while Steve and Bev finished their goodbyes.  Their social worker quickly reminded them that love is like a seed planted—it takes time to grow.  But if that seed is nurtured and fed and carefully pruned, it will grow deep roots that will never die.

“Goodbye, Steve … Bev.  I’ll be by next Monday to check on your family.”

The new parents turned and walked out the door toward the car where Joey waited to be taken to his new home.  No more group homes.  No more orphanages.  No more foster homes.  Joey had a real permanent home, a real family.

“Hey, Joey, you hungry?”  Bev could always count on Steve to stir up conversation in awkward circumstances.

“Sure, whatever.”

“Let’s stop at…well, where do you want to eat, son?”

“I don’t care.”

Bev recognized a potentially frustrating moment on the horizon.  She quickly made a suggestion:  “Let’s stop at that new pizza buffet on Main Street.  I hear they have any kind of pizza you could possibly think of!”

Joey remained silent and unimpressed with his new family’s enthusiasm about pizza.  He’d had it so many times while living with the other families…it was no longer a treat but rather it brought back some difficult memories he thought he’d suppressed.  Quickly, Joey changed the subject to avoid the pain and disillusionment.

“Did ya get the room painted?”

Framing the Picture

 

Allow me to introduce you to Adoption: A Perfect Picture.

Our family has been touched by adoption in nearly every way.  Through both the joy and the pain we've experienced, God has revealed powerful truths to us time and time again.  In essence, adoption is a perfect picture of God's own family.

Each time we opened our hearts and home to a new child, the Lord revealed to us the way He opens His heart and home to us when we become His child. 

Each time our precious children--the very ones who captured our hearts from the moment we first knew of them-- disobeyed or rebelled against our authority, we felt such pain and frustration.  We knew what was best for them, but their own decisions brought them pain and frustration.  But, each time the Lord reminded us of how even the pain is included in this perfect portrait of His own heart as it breaks time and time again when we, His children, choose to ignore His instruction and rebel against His authority.

Intro: Adoption; A Perfect Picture

Adoption is complex with its many joys, challenges, and victories.  Yet, there is a painful side of every adoption as the child has the potential to feel the piercing pain of rejection as it wreaks havoc in the hearts of the most innocent, most often going unnoticed until adulthood. We will explore both sides of the issue of adoption since I am an adoptee who has adopted three children.  We have seen the mixture of joy and pain from reunion with biological families, and more.  Even if your family isn’t personally touched by adoption, this column will increase your awareness of the perfect parallel of God’s love toward us… He chose us, He lavished His love on us, He brought us into His family, He taught us how to be one of His own, He gave us His name, and more.  He has provided for us an inheritance, making us joint-heirs with His Son whose own blood was shed to seal the adoption.

By, Jan Ross This column is looking for a new writer.
Column Posted last Sunday of the month.  (This column is on hold for new writer)

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