I’ve been struck lately about how the face of adoption has changed over the 18 years that Jeff and I have been fostering. It really is profound. When we began this journey the typical adoptive family was a childless couple who had struggled for years with infertility, or a couple who maybe had a child and then had been unable to conceive again. We had so many incredible times as we laid babies in the arms of these deserving families. And although there were certainly lots of other people in various stages of life who adopted during that time, they were not the norm.
Today, things are different. There really is no norm. Last year when Jeff and I attended an Orphan conference in Austin, we were floored by the fact that we were one of the oldest couples there. Bummer.
But not really. It seems like today so many couples feel the call to adopt early in their marriage; even before they have tried to have biological children. I have had the honor of being involved with 2 of these couples over the past year; couples that God has called out to adopt when the world says they should be having their ‘own’ kids. It has been nothing short of supernatural how God has orchestrated these precious families and adorable kids coming together to form families.
And then there is the opposite of them-couples like us. Couples who God calls to adopt, well…..later. I’m smiling as I type! At 51, we would be a year away from an empty nest had we not adopted. At 51, we look more like Serenity and Edward’s grandparents than parents. At 51, we don’t move as fast or as precisely as we used to. At 51, we should be enjoying the ‘good life’, shouldn’t we?
At 51…we are enjoying the good life. As we load kids into carseats and change diapers when our friends are traveling, we look at each other and count our incredible blessings. Although there are times, honestly, we would enjoy some freedom, we stand in awe of the fact that God would entrust us to be part of a story bigger than ourselves or our age.
My prayer for all of us and for Project Zero as we kick it off, is that the Christian community, all of it, would be open to God’s plan for children in foster care awaiting adoption. That we would finally give up the excuses that stand in the way of permanence for these children who deserve a family. We can be a conduit for change. We can make a difference. Sure we are ill equipped, inexperienced, and unqualified, but we serve a God who is all powerful and who can do some amazing things through frail people if we are just willing.
There are 110,000 kids in the United States who wonder if a family will even be part of their story; 500 of those are right here in my state. I’m praying for a miracle, for lots more stories like the ones I’ve experienced this year. God is able and I just want to be willing.