Treasures in a paper bag

Many times we miss the gift God has for us because we don't like the wrapping it comes in.  This is a paraphrase of what I heard today at church.  The pastor said, "If somebody handed you a used lunch bag as a gift, would you want it?  What if there was a diamond inside, would you forgive the packaging?"  His comment made made me think about adoption.  (I guess I think about adoption all the time, especially as we are about to complete one that was started so many years ago!)  My link to the comment was that there are people who pass up the idea of adoption because of misconceptions... they don't like the "wrapping".  I understand this as adoption has so many unknowns.  I wondered if our son would bond with us, or if he would like us.  Now that we are about to meet Marisa, I'm wondering those things again.  I guess that's normal for us to have those questions.  If God is calling you to adopt a child, then He will work those things out.

Part of the reason I keep this blog going is to help people see the miracle that adoption can be.  One of the misconceptions is the fear that they couldn't love an adopted child the same as they would a child born to them.  However, we willingly marry people who definitely aren't related to us.  Our spouse becomes our family and we form a lifelong bond.  Adoption is similar.  We aren't genetically related, but we become a family for the rest of our lives.  We love our son as fiercely as parents do their biologically related children.  Somehow, God knit our hearts together.  It's part of the miracle of adoption.

Perhaps this Christmas season, God is nudging your heart to accept the gift He wants to give you.  It may be the gift of a child through adoption, or something else you've been longing for.  Maybe it's right there in front of you, but because of the "wrapping", you haven't received it yet.  Also, think of this... You may be the gift somebody else is longing for.  There are millions of children worldwide who are wishing for a family to call their own.  I've added a link below to a Steven Curtis Chapman video.  The song is called All I Really Want.  (Grab some tissues just in case.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjMz0MmYejQ&feature=player_embedded

My first moments with our son, May '09

November 2010.  Our family, eighteen months after Kieran was adopted.