I've been thinking about adoption a lot lately... as in, more than usual. For several reasons, I think.
I'm scared of growing older and not doing the things I always said I'd do because life happened.
I just read Noel Piper's adoption story, and pretty much wept the whole time. She and John adopted a little African American girl (Talitha Ruth) when her youngest son was 13 (they have four sons) and she and john were in their 50s. (By the way, Talitha is what Jesus called the little girl he raised from the dead- it means "little she-lamb." That's about the cutest thing I've ever heard.)
Went to BrookHills yesterday, where my heart was first stirred toward adoption. Several months after that first happened, I found myself in that same sanctuary beside a couple in their 50s, white, with a little black girl, about 7. Watching that family, the little girl climbing into her daddy's lap made me teary. Because that's her daddy, and the colors of their skin have no consequence in her eyes. I wanted to thank them, to tell them how much I loved and respected what they were doing, and how much I want to do that one day, but was afraid I'd burst into tears if I tried to talk to them.
I'm only 21, unmarried (and staying that way for awhile), still in school (and staying THAT way for awhile), and currently broke. I have don't have the resources, family position, or financial position to adopt or provide for an adopted child. But my heart cries for it daily.
I don't understand why the Lord puts things in my heart way before they can bear fruit, but I trust Him. And I know that this is from Him. So in 15 years, when you see my little multi-racial family, don't be shocked. Because I've known since I was 20 that my kids wouldn't all look like me :)
