What Adoption Has Taught Me About God

Well... maybe not taught me new things, but helped me see again some wonderful truths about our heavenly Father. While visiting my newest grandson in the hospital, I realized that the emotions I was feeling and the thoughts I was having are what God sees when he looks at us. We are his adopted sons and daughters when we know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Here are just some random thoughts about adoption from an earthly grandfather thinking about his new adopted grandson. Notice what they tell you about God and His adoption of us.

• I totally love my adopted grandchildren as much as my non-adopted grandchildren.
• I love this tiny baby boy and he doesn't even know who I am.
• His heart is all messed up but I love him anyway.
• I love him because he was chosen and loved by my daughter, not because he can do something for me.
• I'm all worried about him and want the best for him even though he doesn't even know what he may need.
• I talk to him when I am with him so he will know my voice when he's able to see me. (He's in a drug induced sleep right now while his heart mends.)
• I took up an offense for him and my other adopted grandchildren when I heard that a stupid preacher said you shouldn't adopt children because you don't know what problems they may have (Pat Robertson - earlier this month Read about it here) 

I suppose the list could go on and on. (Add to it your own thoughts. Or better yet, post them here as a comment.) I think you see what I am saying here. All the things I give to my children and grandchildren are for ALL of them - adopted or not.

I love it when at the adoption proceedings the judge says something like "all the rights and responsibilities of the family, including inheritance are granted as if the child was a natural-born child." And they say something like "and these can't be taken away".... I guess I should have called Christy to double check how this is all worded. Oh, and this makes a great case for the "Baptist" doctrine of "once saved always saved." But that's another post.

I'll close this post with this beautiful verse from Ephesians. (notice the phrase "kind intention" - wow!)

Ephesians 1:5 NAS

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,

A Compliment?

I've always thought it was a compliment when someone - after seeing something you have done or played or whatever - makes a comment like "You make that look so easy." or "I think I could do that too." or "Is that all you had to do?" not knowing the practice and effort and work and training that went behind what you just did.

So that's how I am going to interpret the following events with my two oldest grandchildren.

A week ago Sunday I was leaving the house about 6:45 (which is when I leave every Sunday except Deacon's Meeting Sundays) and Gibson (7) was already up.

"I want to go with you, Papa."

"No, not this morning. I have a lot to do to get ready for church this morning."

"But I really want to go with you," his typical response.

"Not this morning. I'll see you in a little bit." and I was out the door.

Laster that morning as my lovely wife, Cheryl, aka. Grani, was driving to church with Gibson and Haven (6).

"Grani, I really wanted to go with Papa this morning when he came to church. I was already up and ready to go."

Grani replied (she always has my back), "You can't go with Papa on a Sunday morning. He is getting ready for the services and has to concentrate."

To which Haven replied, "What does he have to concentrate for? He doesn't tell the story."

Worship at Crosstown

Once a month my son, Andrew, goes to a little church start-up in downtown OKC that his home church, Council Road Baptist Church, is helping sponsor. He leads worship for them on those Sundays.

While the adults were in worship/Bible study the kids were downstairs. They learned a song on the bells and then came into where we were and played "Joy to the World" and "Away in a Manger." Unfortunately they didn't have a B flat, so "Away..." had a few notes that bothered me a little.

But look at this picture. I think this is the cutest little bell choir I've EVER EVER seen.

Left to right:

Asher (nephew, 22 months), Elam (grandson, 2 yrs.), Gibson (grandson, 6 yrs.), Haven (granddaughter, 5 yrs.) Isaac (nephew, 3 yrs.), pastor's son, pastor's daughter. Good thing we all showed up!