A life transformed through adoption

To say that adoption is life-altering is an understatement. A child goes from being an orphan with no family, and an uncertain (at best) future, and in a moment life is radically different. Through the act of adoption, an orphan becomes a cherished son or daughter, they belong to a family, and their future is suddenly full of promise.

However, the life I am referring to is not any of my adopted children’s, but my own. You see, I knew life would change with the adoption of each of my children. What I didn’t anticipate is how God would use adoption to transform me. I had no idea that He would reveal so much of His character to me in the adoption process. His adoption of me took on such literal meaning as I adopted each of my children. I already knew God loved me, but I got a much deeper understanding of the depth and breadth of that love. I had no idea how much you could love and miss someone that you had never met. I could not imagine the sacrifices I would be willing to make or the distance I would go, for someone who was literally a complete stranger.

The act of adoption has also taught me much about my character, and some of those lessons have been difficult to learn; I can be fearful, impatient, faithless, doubting, and whiny. On the other hand, I have learned that can be persistent and stubborn, assertive, and a “mama bear” anytime a situation calls for me to defend my children. I have gained a better understanding about unconditional love, and found out how exceedingly challenging it is to actually love someone without conditions (I dare you to really examine if you have a person in your life that you love, that doesn’t love you back).

Adoption has changed and altered me, and I will never be the same. I thank God every day that He would allow me to be transformed through the miracle of adoption. I cannot imagine my life without my amazing kids, and I am blessed beyond words to be their mom!