“Father of the fatherless…is God in His holy habitation. God settles the lonely in a home.” ~Psalm 68: 5 & 6

God has a particular love for the child in need of a family. And He has a special love for adoption because He chooses to describe our own relationship with Him as one of-- adoption.

“Adoption in God’s mind was not Plan B. He predestined us for adoption before the creation of the world. Plan A was not lots of children who never sin and never need to be redeemed. Plan A was creation, fall, redemption, and adoption so that the full range of God’s glory and mercy and grace could be known by His adopted children. Adoption was not second best. It was planned from the beginning.” ~John Piper

Today, the Sunday before Thanksgiving, is National Adoption Day .

And this time of year is extra close to my heart because it was during the week of Thanksgiving, five years ago, that we finalized the adoption of our fifth child, Lydia.

While God doesn’t ask every family to adopt, He does ask each one of us to care for the fatherless in some way...

“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction.” ~James 1:27

“Give justice to the weak and fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and lonely; rescue the weak and needy.” ~ Psalm 82:3

Our family was absolutely blessed by the many family, friends, and even strangers who supported us through both of our adoptions. And there are many ways that we all can support God's love for children and His heart for adoption:

1) Prayerfully consider if God is leading your family towards adoption. There are a lot of very good, practical questions to work through if you are taking steps toward adoption, but the most important question you can ask is-- "Is God telling us to do this?"

2) Encourage families who are adopting through prayer. Pray for specific children who are currently waiting to be adopted. Take time to understand the hard realities that often accompany adoption and pray for those you know who may be struggling.

3) Financially support those you know who are pursuing adoption or offer to help them in their fundraising. Consider giving to solid organizations that support adoption.

4) Become a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer.

5) Offer free photography services to adoption advocates such as The Heartland Gallery.

6) Become a respite care provide for foster and adoptive families that need support.

7) Be a mentor to a child in the foster care system.

8) Take time to learn about "positive adoption language". This is really important! Much is communicated in a simple question like, "Where are her real parents?"

9) Teach your children about and talk about adoption, regardless of whether or not God ever leads you to adopt.

10) Develop a personal love for adoption and take time to understand how it relates to God's spiritual adoption plan.

Please join us today as we give thanks for, pray for, and show support for-- the gift of adoption.

“…God is graciously involved in our adoptions. He has done it Himself. He knows what it costs. And He stands ready to support us all the way to the end.” ~John Piper

With Love, Kara