Adoption Sunday

I remember the conversation like it was yesterday. October 30th, five years ago, we were all riding in the car coming back to Shreveport from a weekend with the grandparents. We knew God was leading our family toward adoption, but we had no clue what that meant. We knew the need was great, but which direction should we go? How do we start the process? What do we need? Who do we talk to? The practical thing to do in my mind was just make a list. Later that week we called our local adoption agency, Open Arms, and set up a time to sit down and get all of our questions answered. We agreed that we would just take baby steps in the right direction as we could save up or raise enough money to do so. This took awhile as we could not even afford the home study, much less an adoption. We prayed that if this was God's will for our family, if this was what He wanted, that He would provide. We started saving and five months later we had the $1,000 we needed to start our home study. 

Throughout the entire process our prayer was that we would wait on the Lord, listening very carefully for His lead in every decision we made. We wanted to be certain we were not making decisions based on our own desires or emotions. We agreed not to do anything that we had not prayed about and knew God was saying yes to. The funny thing is, sometimes when you are crying out to God for answers, you hear... nothing. The louder we get, the more we beg and plead for answers... crickets. I've learned that it is in this painful silence that He draws us near to Himself. As we press in, read His word, dig deeper, and pursue Him with everything that we have... That! That is EXACTLY where He wants us! 

Music is my therapy and "Without You" by Shane & Shane was one of our favorite songs to sing during the adoption process. 

Megan and Brandon Shaver

Driving home to meet our new son, clear as day God spoke to me. Not audibly, but in my heart. I was starting to panic and worry that we were not prepared for what was waiting for us back home, when I felt an overwhelming peace come over me. Megan, when did I call you to this? Do the math. So I started counting in my head and thinking back. The week we felt God leading us toward adoption was the week that Bryce was conceived. He reminded me that He is always in control. He is sovereign over every single detail, and His timing is perfect. He said, you are not, in fact, prepared for this, but I am the one who will equip you as you go. 

As believers we are all called to care for the fatherless. (James 1:27) There are many ways we can do this. Praying for fatherless children around the world in orphanages, foster care, those at risk of being aborted, and the countless 'waiting' children across the country. Finding ways to support at risk women who might just need someone to support and help them out a little so they can keep their children. You can do this by volunteering at places like Heart of Hope or the Crisis Pregnancy Center. You can support an adoptive family by praying for them, donating money toward their adoption fees, babysitting their kids, bringing a meal, or just giving them a big hug and letting them know you are there for them. You might feel led to become a foster parent and provide a loving environment to a child who is in desperate need of a safe place, even if just for a little while. Finally you might feel that God is calling you to adopt a child into your family, the same way He has adopted you into His. Whichever way God is leading you to serve, just be sure to seek Him through every single decision.

“We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God.”

1 John 3:16-19