Orphans adopting orphans.

I had the privilege of attending the "Adopting for Life" conference at Southern Seminary this weekend and wanted to pass along my main takeaways. Being that I have hoped to adopt since I was a teenager and have often felt strangely alone in that desire, it was encouraging and inspiring to meet and talk to many other people who have also had the same longings!

*Adoption is not to be seen as "Plan B" for your family.

If the Lord has chosen to bring your family to a point where adoption is your best option, it is not "Plan B". It is "Plan A" and the best option because it is what the Lord has planned.

* Adoption seems to be taking longer and longer these days.

This is true because, sadly, they are trying to ensure that the adopted child will not be forced into child labor or sex trafficking, so it does tend to take longer. Take heart if you are waiting as the wait is simply in order to protect the child.

* Bringing a child from poverty to privilege is not the point of adoption.

Adoption is not about changing a child's financial status and culture it is about discipleship! When you bring a child into your home, you are choosing to mentor another life. That is the beauty of adoption.

* People who adopt are not heroes, they are pitifully needy orphans first.

Many of the speakers continued to come back to the point that our culture will be unable to sustain the current, growing rate of international adoption if we are only "compassion reactive". We cannot adopt because orphans make us sad and we want to be a part of their redemption story. Adoption is too hard. The sustaining will only come once we realize that WE were first orphans- pitiful, needy and poor- taken in and provided for- by God. Until we see ourselves as just as needy as the orphans we seek to adopt, we will not be prepared for the appropriate reaction toward the trials that will come with adoption.

"We are not the solution to the orphan crisis. The cross is the solution for them and for us."
"We are not 'the rescuers' of the world but 'the rescued'."
Russell D. Moore

* Suffering comes with adoption. Every time.

Every adoption begins with a tragedy. There is a child who is unwanted. That is a tragedy that will stay with that child for life. It ought not define them, but it will stay with them. Imagine how much joy The Evil One receives from that! Because the Gospel is so clearly shown in and through the adoption process, you must prepare for battle and fight suffering with hope and truth that can only come from the Lord.

Here are some books to read on the topic, if you are interested:
"Adopted for Life"
"Heirs with Christ"
"The Greatest is Charity"

Some great videos to watch on the topic