Adoption – Part of God’s Divine Plan

As another Mothers’ Day passes us by, whether joyful, sorrowful or a bit of both. My heart and mind turn towards those wonderful people who would take a child into their family and raise them as their own.

Prior to the mid-1970s adoption was mandatory for unmarried mothers – a cruel predicament. Many babies were taken by the State and placed into adoption with loving families. Mostly they were loving families, but what of the mother? How must she have felt every time her child’s birthday came around? How must she have felt at Christmas, Easter, and indeed on Mothers’ Day?

These occasions are heartbreaking for many for a multitude of reasons. For a post on not so happy Mothers’ Days, you may wish to flick back and read Meredith Resce’s heartfelt take on the subject. When Mothers Day Is Not Happy

Today, let’s look at adoption for what it is. Adoption can bring families closer together … The man and woman who have tried for years to conceive a child may at last start a family. Young women are no longer looked down upon (praise Jesus), should they decide to raise a child or children as a single parent. There are however reasons why a woman of any age may be unable to raise her own child. In these circumstances, I believe adoption is the only humane alternative.

It is such a privilege to be able to provide a chance at life for these tiny babies/children. There are so many prospective parents waiting to have a child to raise as their own. Knowing this makes adoption logical.

All life is created by God for a purpose.

My younger brother is adopted. His mother was unwed and pregnant in 1969. She would have been a beautiful mother, but she didn’t have that choice. My parents always wanted a fourth child but couldn’t have another after number three. Adoption made sense. I am glad it did – my little brother (and Godson) was the missing piece of the jigsaw of our family. He also came at a time when our family had experienced great loss, and so he was a miraculous gift.

When we care for these innocent children there are only two choices. One is to raise them and love them ourselves, and the other is to permit a loving family to adopt them … and of course we will never stop loving them.

When I was forty-six I became a grandmother. Initially, I was shocked and overwhelmed by the news, as was my daughter. I had to examine my conscience while considering my daughter’s options. My faith was put to the test. It was my daughter who reminded me that her father and I had brought her up with strict moral beliefs around this subject. She personally had one choice, and that was to love and raise that little girl as no one else could. My granddaughter saved my daughter’s life.

Adoption has always been part of God’s plan. If we go back to biblical times we realise that many people were adopted. Esther was adopted by her elder cousin when her parents died.
‘Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, whom he had brought up because she had neither father nor mother. This young woman, who was also known as Esther, had a lovely figure and was beautiful. Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her father and mother died.’ ~ Esther 2:7 NIV

Moses was adopted by the daughter of the Pharaoh of Egypt. Both of these people were used by God for His divine purpose … the deliverance of His people.
“And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” ~ Exodus 3:9-10 NIV

Even Jesus was adopted by Joseph, and we know God’s plan there.
^“But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” ~ Matthew 1:20-21 NIV

Adoption is how God chose to create a family for Himself, to be the object of His eternal affection and love.
‘But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.’ ~ Galatians 4:4-7 NIV

[bctt tweet=”We spend a lot of time planning what we should do, and what we think we will do, but God just looks down with a smile on His face and says ‘It’s okay, I’ve got this.’” username=”acwriters”]

Throughout history, God has carefully and wisely woven adoption into His divine plan. So we are all adopted. Adopted into God’s family and for this, I shall always be grateful.

God bless, Jo’Anne ♥