I have heard so many people say "You are doing such a wonderful thing" by adopting. So, it made me stop and wonder why I do the things that I do. Is it because Sheryl & I are so wonderful? Is it because we are some of those goofy, crazy "church people" that do things for others that don't always make sense or seem logical? Or, maybe it's because it will score a lot of points with God when we get to that final tally at the end of our lives?
We (Sheryl & I) ultimately do what we do because of the hope that we have in our future and in our eternity after this life. It's not about earning points or being good enough. "If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men." ICorin. 15:19. We no longer have to put forth the attempt. All we have to do is be obedient. "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2Corin. 5:21. How do you know when God is calling you to do something? He puts a desire, or a drive, or a motivation in our hearts that can't be ignored. It's that still small voice that we obey not for personal or selfish reasons but because we know it is the right thing to do and the thing that God would do. Not because it makes us look good or feel good.
There are a lot of things about this adoption that have been a struggle and not the easy or logical thing to do. It has caused struggles and a closeness within our immediate family. Please don't look at us as such wonderful people who are doing a great thing for this new little girl that will be coming into our family. We are only doing what we know God is calling us to do. However, we do ask that all of you continue to pray for the five of us as we prepare to go to China within the next 2-3 months and we ask that you pray for Grace - that God will protect her and prepare her for a big change that is about to occur in her life.
God works in ways that don't always make sense to us. We know that in the end, we are the ones who will probably receive a blessing even bigger than Grace receives by coming into our family. God always honors our obedience, and just about the time that we think that we are sacrificing for Him and doing such great things for His purpose, He surprises us by giving us so much more than we ever thought that we were giving to Him in the first place. I'm glad that God's ways are not my ways and I'm also glad that I don't have to adopt ( or do anything else for that matter) to please Him or to earn his favor or a place in heaven. What's your purpose in life and why do you do the things you do? An eternity is a long time!!! I hope we all get to spend it together - and with Grace right there with us.
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What a wonderful idea to make the blog spot! You will definitely be in our prayers. It has been a long time since Allen and I made the journey to get Hayden, but if you have any questions or if we can help in any way, please let us know. Also, the offer still stands for our luggage. We have a number of suitcases and specifically, we have one very large suitcase that has a slightly smaller one that fits just inside, kind of like a shell, so you can take them both to China with one inside the other, filling the smaller of the two, and can have two to come back with to house the additional items you buy in China. Unless we lent our plastic bags to someone else who adopted and did not get them back, we should also have those bags we talked about where you can put your clothes inside and squeeze out all of the air to make more room.
ReplyDeleteIt is wonderful that you are able to take your whole family to get Grace. It will be an experience they will never forget, and will help begin the welcoming process of a new little one into your lives. Plus, there is nothing like experiencing life in a different country on the other side of the world. And I know what you mean about people saying it’s wonderful you are adopting. Until you do it, it is probably hard to conceptualize, but it is our little ones who are God’s gifts to us. It is they who enrich and bring joy to our lives. We cannot imagine life without Hayden and believe that God specifically chose her to be with us. Adoption was a foreign concept for us until we had people and circumstances placed before us that we now believe was part of God’s divine intervention. We can’t wait to welcome Grace into our church family!
God Bless,
Connie, Allen, Adam, Christopher and Hayden Motter
It is an honor to pray for your journey. Little Grace will be bathed in prayer, as will your family.
ReplyDeleteWe were so excited to hear of your good news. We will be praying for each of you and can't wait to hear more about Grace as she travels with you all to her new home in Hudson, Ohio. She is a very lucky girl to be joining your family.
ReplyDeleteSafe travels to you all and God Bless!
Paul, Lorie, Hannah and Eliza Gallagher
Hello, I was directed to you by Vicki Brower. We too are adopting a 3 year old daughter from China. It looks like we should travel by early May, perhaps late April. We live in Stow (I assume not far from you). Our daughter also had a CL/CP. It seems we have much in common!
ReplyDeletePlease feel free to contact us-we are hoping to build a strong network of China adoptive parents. Blessings, Lori