Orphan Sunday

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans 

and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. 

James 1:27

Orphan Sunday - a day for the church to remember and stand with the orphans. As I think about this, there are so many thoughts running through my mind.

About 6 years ago we began the paperwork process of adoption. I could write about the challenges and the stack of paperwork that we filled out, notarized, signed, and copied. In all of that God provided in so many ways providing documents just when we needed them, financial provisions in ways that we had not thought, a US licensed social worker in our city, so many ways that God showed us that it was his plan for us.

Then there was the travel and spending the time there while we completed the adoption. We had lived overseas in a number of places and visited many places overseas but I will say that was one of the most difficult places that we had lived. We were experiencing what it was like in Bob's city. It reminded us that Christ left heaven and spent time on earth. He came to know and understand us and then to ultimately give his life for us so we could be adopted.

As we went through the adoption process, there were so many parallels that helped us to understand just a bit what it means when God adopted us.

Because of adoption

We have a new name.

We have a new life.

We have a new culture, way of life.

We have a new language.

We have a new family.

We have a hope and a future.

We have eternal life.

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, 

that we should be called children of God; and so we are. 

I John 1:1

Beth