A sweet, sweet gift
We found out in early June that a beautiful gift might be coming to our family. It was something that my daughter and son-in-law had hoped and prayed for a very long time. Two days later they were chosen by the birth parents. Five days later a perfect little baby boy was born.
We all gathered at the hospital, and my daughter and son-in-law brought the long awaited and beautiful miracle home.
Two weeks later Luke was officially theirs–and ours as well.
Now that I’ve been through this process, I treasure even more these words:
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:14-16
I love how The Message words it:
This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are.
We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what’s coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we’re certainly going to go through the good times with him!
You see, we didn’t know his name, or what he might look like, or what his ethnicity might be. We didn’t know how old he would be, or even if it would be a boy or a girl.
[bctt tweet=”The resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike, “What’s next, Papa?” https://wp.me/p4jbdw-VG” username=”suzanneeller”]
All we knew is that this child was wanted. Loved. Prayed for. Hoped for. . .
Long before my daughter and son-in-law held him in their arms, they treasured this child. Now that he is a reality after years of waiting, I’ve watched as these new parents have changed diapers, yelped at the poop fountain that erupts almost every time they remove his diaper, and slog through sleep-deprived nights.
He’s still wanted. Still treasured. Still loved. Still a miracle in every way.
Sometimes we look at God and wonder if we are a bother. After all, we’re a handful at times. Messy. A work in progress. But if Scripture says that I’m adopted, then that means that God loves me and you like Josh and Melissa love Luke, but in a God-like measure.
Greater than we can imagine.
What does that mean to you, to me?
That we never have to try to figure out who we are, if we are a child of God.
We’re wanted. Loved. Longed for. God holds us close, even as he teaches, shapes, and lead us.
He’s our Abba Father.
I love that.
Suzie
Abba is an intimate term for Father.
Q: If you had a harsh dad or an absentee dad, this can tarnish the word “father.” How does your Heavenly Father differ from an earthly dad, even a good one?
Memory Verse
Galatians 4:6 – “Because you are sons and daughters, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!'”
I love that too! And Gramma looks great on you 🙂
Reading this post brings to mind and heart all the feelings and hopes and prayers and waiting for our two girls. Congratulations! So excited for you!
Adoption is such a wonderful gift that God gives us. Mr. Luke is adorable. We adopted two years ago and what a blessing it has been. We are currently looking for God to reveal his plan in another adoption. God is so good to us! We just know that there are so many children who even at this moment need a mom and a dad. God desire is for christian people to step up to the plate and take care of the fatherless and the orphans.
Thanks, ladies. I love this little guy so much.
This was so beautiful! First of all I am so happy for your family. I know the joy I see in your picture. I am Mom to 4 children and NANA to 4 little grandsons and they are such precious gifts. I remeber how much we wanted them and love them and your right, even in the hard times we loved caring for them. I needed that reminder tonight because I have been struggling for a year now with deep trials and I’m not being a very good child of God in my atttitude. I feel unlovable and that He must be so upset with me and that’s why it’s not all getting better. Well, from this post and then the other one about the fence in the neighbors driveway, I can hear the Lord speaking. My trails may not have a happy ending, they may be hard, but I need to do what is right, even through the pain. And my Abba Father still loves me. Even though I’ve been crying all night long, for days, weeks, now months. THANK-YOU SO MUCH SUZIE. May God bless your minirtry and may tomorrow be a new beginning for me.