Our \”Adopted\” Children

In addition to our own two children and five grandchildren, Dave and I have a number of young people we refer to as our heart children. They\’ve come into our lives through the years and captured our hearts. We don\’t know what it is that caused us to love them, but we can\’t deny that God placed a deep love for them inside of us.  Most of them belong to happy, loving families, so it\’s not like we feel the need to \”rescue\” them. For some of these young folks, it\’s almost like the scripture that talks about souls being knitted together. I clearly remember looking at a young couple visiting our church and immediately loving them. Dave and I barely knew their names, but we knew they were going to be our \”kids.\” To this day, they have our hearts, and have also given us a heart-grandchild (he calls us Grandma Claudette and Grandpa Pastor).

To my memory, it began when a friend of one of our children called us \”mom\” and \”pop.\” At first we were surprised, but it didn\’t take long to decide we really liked the reference. Considering us in that way represented to us a sort of trust that we were there for them. Even today a few of our kids\’ friends continue to refer to us in that way, even though they are now grown and have children of their own. At one of our churches, one of our members called me mom because, in his culture, pastor\’s wives are considered the church mother or first lady. He and his wife remain precious to us to this day. Kids who grew up in churches Dave pastored occasionally still seek us out for advice. I have some \”adopted\” kids that I met through various online forums. Our grandsons friends call us grandma and \”dad.\” We love each and every one of these young people, and we are honored that they share their lives with us. We consider it a high calling and a great privilege.

As believers in Christ, it doesn\’t surprise God when we call Him Father, or Daddy, or Papa. In fact, He rather enjoys it. We have been adopted as His children, and His heart is knitted to ours.  Because we are His children, we are precious to Him; and like the Good Parent that He is, He is interested in every aspect of our lives. He forever wants the best for us. I don\’t understand why God loves me, but I know that He does. I am grateful to be His child, and I know that I can always depend on Him to care for me and love me unconditionally.  

Ephesians 1:4-6 says, \”… He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.\” (NASB)

How wonderful is that?

Have a great day, everyone. Remember, it\’s all about HIM.