Adopted
It was 7 years ago next month that I first met a young boy from Nicaragua named Lucas. He still remembers meeting me for the first time, even the clothes I was wearing. There were four families in our church seeking to adopt 5 siblings from Nicaragua and bring them back to Carroll County, Georgia. I can’t begin to put into words the events that happened from June 2010 to February 2011, but we landed in Atlanta with all five kids legally adopted! There were some heroes involved and some amazing miracles from the Lord that helped us pull that off. Today my son Lucas graduates from high school and we are so excited with him.
I must say that I’ve learned more about my Heavenly Father since becoming a Dad. Luke was my 5th child so I had some experience being Dad. I still can’t describe the fulfillment of being a Dad and how much love I have for them. When Luke came along, that same love started coming out. He was nearly 12 years old, but the love that the Lord had for me really helped me love Luke even deeper. We had missed so much of Luke’s childhood. It hasn’t always been easy over the past 6.5 years, but God has shown us even more how to love deeply like He loves. Check this out…
14 For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. 15 You did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” 16 The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, 17 and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. (Romans 8:14-17 CSB)
I am an adopted son of God. He made me an heir to all the promises and the future that He’s prepared. I am so humbled to think about the Lord adopting me into His family. I am certainly not perfect and I’m sure I hurt Him at times and embarrass Him, but He just keeps loving me.
Today as Luke graduates, there is a sense of accomplishment for him. Tina and I also feel a sense of accomplishment as he gets ready to enter the work force and build a life of his own. It’s exciting to look back on the journey when growth and progress happen. It’s hard in the middle of it because we can’t always measure the progress.
My walk with the Lord sometimes feels stale and slow but I just keep plugging along. He honors my faithful “plugging along”. He speaks to me. He sustains me. He encourages me. I am His son. I am adopted into His family with an incredible future. I am so thankful to know the Lord and the promise and purpose that He gives for my life and the hopeful future that is ahead.
Pressing On!
Dwayne