There have been a few people who have commented that Adoption is the perfect example of Gods love for us. The fact that He wants us to be part of his "Forever Family".... although if he wants the Blog name, He's gonna have to take that up with my lawyers. I totally agree with this assessment, that Adoption is a wonderful reflection of Gods love for us. But it hit me this morning that Adoption is still just a shallow reflection of Gods love. There is one BIG difference between our Adoption process and Gods redemptive love...
... see, we didn't have to give up anything to adopt Ping into our family.
Whereas, God had to give up his only Son.
Would I give up Son #1 to add Daughter #2 to our family?
Wow... now there is a tough question.
And not just "give up" my Son #1, but to know what would be required of Son #1 to bring us into His forever family?
How much would God have to love us to actually go through with his "adoption" knowing what He would be loosing?!
God (Dad): Son, I love you!
Jesus (Son #1): I know Dad.
Dad: Hey, do you remember when we made the Heavens and the Earth?!
Son #1: Oh yea, good times! Oh, and remember making the Light?
Dad: Yea! That was Awesome! "Let there be light!"
Son #1: and BAM! There it was! Hahahaha... oh, that was good stuff.
Dad: And remember when we made the animals? The birds in the air, and the beasts on the land?
Son #1: Yup... oh, and then you threw in that Platypus just to mess with everyones heads!
Dad: Ahhh! Yea! Good ol' Platty... donno what I was thinking then.
Son #1: And then making Man?
Dad: *siiigh* Yea... man... good thing we fixed that design with the Woman.
Son #1: Yup, that could have been pretty messy without her!
Dad: Hey, I've been thinking.
Son #1: Yea? Whats up?
Dad: Do you like being an only child?
Son #1: Well, I haven't really thought about it much. I guess its OK. Maybe a little lonely.
Dad: Well, I've been thinking, you know, about adopting some more children.
Son #1: Really?! Wow. Well, yea, that would be GREAT! Want to make them the same way? Get some Dust of the Earth and breath on it?
Dad: Well no, we can't do it that way... we've already done that... and it has some limitations.
Son #1: Oh? Whats that?
Dad: Dust isn't eternal.
Son #1: Oh, right. Well... uh, clay?
Dad: Hahahaha... um, no. I was thinking, that for us to have an eternal family, that you are going to have to leave.
Son #1: Oh. I see.
Dad: Yea. I know its a little awkward, but the only way I can adopt more children is if you go bring them to me.
Son #1: Great! I can draw all men unto you!
Dad: I know Son, that is what I'm counting on. But there's a catch.
Son #1: I have to goto Winnipeg?
Dad: Well, yes... you do... But thats not the catch.
Son #1: Oh... there is something worse than Winnipeg? BRANDON!?
Dad: You have to die.
Son #1: Hmmmm... die eh?
Dad: Yea.
Son #1: Like, of old age? After I've lived a great long life helping you adopt?
Dad: No. I need you to go to Earth, and die, horribly, in the worst way possible, so that the other children can find Me.
...
Son #1: Thats your plan? Thats the best plan you can come up with?! You create the whole world, no wait, you create the WHOLE UNIVERSE, and THAT is your plan?! I die? For them?! But they might not even love you! Adopted children can be very difficult.
Dad: Yes, I know. All children can be difficult. And yes, this is the best plan.
Son #1: Now I KNOW I wasn't paying attention during that whole "talk" we had before about the Birds and the Bees, but wouldn't it just be simpler to make... you know... a Mrs. God?
Dad: No. This is the plan. It is the only plan.
Son #1: Well Dad, not my will, but yours be done.
Dad: I love you Son.
Son #1: I know Dad.
Wow, It's just like reading the King James' version!
ReplyDeleteYep, He loves us big time!!
ReplyDeleteErrrr....what's wrong with Brandon???? I was born in Brandon!!!! Haven't been there since I was two though. Just sayin'.....
Let me know where you teach bible study....because that's one class I won't miss!
ReplyDeleteI am happy for you that you have your beautiful daughter, so please don't misunderstand what I am about to say.
ReplyDeleteThough you didn't have to give up anything to have Ping in your family, Ping has lost a great deal. And somewhere in China, there may well be a birth mother aching for that girl. That's not your fault (politics and culture put her in that orphanage), but it's so important that you acknowledge those losses to yourself, and to her as she gets older.
I'm not saying you shouldn't rejoice -- you should delight in your girl! But some all-too-human sacrifices have been made in order for this to happen and we need to remember the people in the triad who have lost so much.
-- Blessings from a fellow adoptive parent
I don't think that it is possible for any of us who have made the trip to China to forget the circle of impact, gains and losses, that are involved. Most times that I look at my beautiful little girl along with my thoughts of how lucky my wife and I, and her all are to be together as a true family...I also am very aware that she has a birth Mother out there somewhere. I have extreme gratitude to this person who, through God's plan, brought this special little girl....our girl....to us. I really can't say what her birth Mother is feeling, but I don't pretend for a minute that she has not experienced loss. I have no doubt that her choice was not an easy one....quite likely not "her choice". We have been home for 3 months today...I can not even fathom for a moment the thought of Clarissa not being with us. In fact, I refuse to go there.
ReplyDeleteI am also acutely aware that Clarissa has experienced more loss at a year old than many people in adulthood have. I see it in the fear in her eyes every time she realizes that she doesn't know where Mommy and Daddy are. However, the joy and happiness that I see in her when she is with us surpasses that a million times over.
Hmmmm do I have a point here?? Not sure anymore. Hopefully you'll forgive my rant, but I guess that I am just a tad uncomfortable with the suggestion that Adrian and Roberta, or any of us don't remember the loss that is involved.
Very good indeed, the greatest mystery of all is just that, that Love of God through death brings forth life.
ReplyDeleteJohn 12:24 (New King James Version)
24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.
in Christ..
Aye, well felt Rob, well felt. :-)
ReplyDeleteI know I will never be able to understand Pings loss, but I know its there, and that it is real.
One of the reasons I started this blog was to get knowledge like that out to others... because most people I talk to about adoption just say "oh she must be so happy", and more often than not, I'm thinking in my head, "oh no, scared, terrified, and sad most likely... happy... hopefully someday". :-)