Ten Reasons We Are Compelled to Adopt: Part One

When I was a kid, I remember the first time a friend of mine told me another girl in our class was adopted. I wasn't sure how to feel. First, I wasn't really sure what it all meant. Secondarily, he was telling me in a hushed whisper with a hint of cafeteria food from my elementary school on his breath which left me with a sense of uneasiness. This was my introduction to the world of adoption. I felt bad for the girl in my class. Was she sad at home? Did she even like her adoptive parents? There were so many unanswered questions.

When I became a Christian, I was introduced to a whole different idea of adoption. I started meeting families who had adopted from a place of deep love. I met children who delighted in their parents and who weren't ashamed of being adopted at all. On top of all of this, I met parents who had chosen to adopt despite having no infertility issues of their own. Adoption wasn't their plan B. This made me start reconsidering the view of adoption I had gained from my musty-breathed elementary school buddy.

Adoption was never meant to be a hush discussion held in the corners of classrooms. Adoption is the highest prize of gospel truth, and the proclamation of God's great love for his children.

"In love [God] predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ." Ephesians 1:5

God, in eternity past, chose to adopt me into his family as a son. He counted the cost and thought that it was worth the sacrifice of His only begotten son on the cross to adopt me. Jesus went willingly to the cross to pay the price to have me as his little brother. And once I was adopted, he didn't keep it hush. He celebrated it, proclaimed it, and commissioned me to tell the world about it.

Everything about adoption is immersed in the gospel of Jesus Christ:

Earthly adoption comes from a heart of love. Our heavenly adoption is rooted in God's love for the world. (John 3:16)

Earthly adoption requires sacrifice from the adoptive family. Our heavenly adoption was secured by a perfect sacrifice. (Hebrews 10:13-14)

Earthly adoption is very costly. Our heavenly adoption was paid for at the highest price. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Earthly international adoption requires the parent to travel a long way to get their child. Our heavenly adoption was made possible through the ultimate travel; Jesus traveled from heaven to earth, from throne to manger in order to make us sons and daughters of God. (John 6:62)

Earthly adoption gives the child a new name. Our heavenly adoption allows us to bear the precious name that is above every name. (Philippians 2:9-11) (Revelation 3:12)

Earthly adoption gives the child a parent who takes responsibility for them. Our heavenly adoption was secured by Jesus taking responsibility for sins that were not his. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Earthly international adoption gives the child a new citizenship. Our heavenly adoption makes us a holy nation and citizens of the household of God. (1 Peter 2:9) (Ephesians 2:19)

Earthly adoption takes children from orphanages and makes them your children. Our heavenly adoption takes us from orphans and makes us sons and daughters. (Galatians 3:6)

Earthly adoption gives this child the inheritance of his/her father. Our heavenly adoption made us the beneficiaries of God the Father's inexhaustible inheritance. (Galatians 3:7)

Earthly adoption gives a child a home forever. Our heavenly adoption included a promise that Jesus was preparing an eternal home for us. (John 14:1-3)

Our first reason we are compelled to adopt is because we are adopted. This story is meant to be proclaimed, not pitied! We want to be a part of the most amazing story that has ever been told.

Many adoption agencies use a phrase to communicate what they are looking for in adoptive parents. They say "we are hoping to find a forever home for these children." God the Father has adopted us into his glorious family and we have a forever home eternally secured by Jesus!

Our prayer is that you would consider your place in this great big story of adoption. Perhaps you are not called to adopt yourself. Don't let that hinder you from being a part of the story though. We hope that you would consider two other ways to join in this story.

(1) Pray for us.
The international adoption process is a beast. It has already taken us countless hours to go through the paperwork and we are still not done. There are home studies, trips to Austin to certify documents, and even then we are only at the referral stage. We will have to take 3 trips to Kyrgyzstan with large amounts of time in between without being able to bring our child home. It will be financially, emotionally, spiritually and physically costly, but it is SO WORTH IT! Please consider praying for us as we walk through the process.

(2) Give toward the gift.
We are humbled by the generosity of many already in word and deed. The total cost of this adoption process could total above $45,000. Although we have been brainstorming creative ideas to fundraise, none of this will be possible without the buy-in from family and friends who believe in the cause of adoption. Please consider following this link and giving. We are eternally grateful and we're convinced our child will be as well.

Give Forward: The Marley Adoption