Part 2: Why?

Warning: This was written by Devin and will lack the graceful writing you normally read here…

This Sunday started out like any other day for our family, but little did I know how much it would change a few hours later. This was a weekend that we did not have H at home, so that meant arriving at church early for my usher team leader duties. J was still hanging out with us during church services so M sat with her. At some point during the church service M took J back to the mother’s room and I would not see them again until we all got in the car after service.

Once we were in the car M wanted to talk to me about something God put on her heart. It was something that had been there a long time, but she had been reluctant to give in. The day still seems fuzzy to me about what she exactly said, but I could tell she was passionate and motivated. She told me that she wanted to adopt a special needs child. A child like the ones I have seen on the Reese’s Rainbow site. A child that the world has forgotten about and left for dead. As I listened to her that day I realized my life was about to change … drastically! I sat there and cried with her in the car for a while. You may not know this, but I am a huge teddy bear full of emotions (I tear up during almost every Hallmark movie we watch). Immediately I felt scared and had reservations. Admittedly, I am uncomfortable around special needs children and adults. I did not have much exposure to them growing up and so I do not know how to act around them. Now God was calling me to be the father of a special needs child.

Instantly the questions start coming in. Can I actually do this? Can we afford to do this? How will our house hold another person? Can we afford to have one income? 

So here is my why… my wife!

She has stood at my side through times of trial. She has believed that I am a good man, husband, and father even when I was not. 

Ephesians 5:25 states, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” I love my wife more than she will ever know. I am 100% on board with her so the least I can do is lay down my life for her (not literally in this instance) so that we can adopt a child.

Here is my second why … God/Jesus!

It is hard to not think of God when you think of doing this. It is scary and daunting. It will require sacrifice and patience. I am lucky to have been born in the United States where I get to hear about God freely. I get to hear about his love and grace for each one of us. I also know that because I have been so blessed that God expects more of me.

Luke 12:48 states, ” From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much will be asked.”

This is where M and I are at. We live in the richest country in the world. I make more money in one week than most in other parts of the world make in a year or more. We are so blessed that we fail to even realize it. So we are stepping up to the plate.

I invite you today to think about your own life. Most people are not called to adopt a special needs child, but what are you called to? Have you been ignoring the whispers from God? Have you been making excuses?

Maybe its time to “Cut the crap” -God who loves you