Orphan Sunday

Today is Orphan Sunday.  Churches and people across America will take time to raise awareness of the orphans in the world and pray for those children.

Today we also celebrate that we are no longer orphans and that God did not leave us alone.  We were separated from God because of our sin, but God sent us a Savior to redeem us to Himself.  He left heaven and came to earth for us and sacrificed His life to die for us. For a sinful people who did not deserve it at all.  He gave us life, a hope, and a future.

What an honor we have to be able to show an orphan just a glimpse of that love in an earthly form.  God is the defender of the powerless.  Pslam 68:5 says "A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows, is God in His Holy habitation" and Isaiah 1:17 says "Learn to do good; seek justice, reprove the ruthless, defend the orphan, plead for the widow."  We are God's hands and feet.  We are to be like Christ.  Adoption is not easy and is completely sacrificial.  But what better way to express this love and follow God's commands?

James 1:27 tell us that "Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world."  Orphans are in distress.  We are called to help.  For our family, that means adoption.  What does this mean for you and your family?  It is not a verse to be overlooked or one to be pushed off  'until the time is right'.

November is National Adoption Month in America.  I am not a very good writer- never have been and probably never will be. So you'll have to bear with me a bit this month as I attempt to open up a bit and share more of our heart to you.  I might use a lot of quotes because sometimes when I read something written by someone else I think--"That was EXACTLY what I was thinking! I just could never say it so well!"  (You'll also have to bear with my grammatical errors.....sorry, Andrea!)

Today, I will share the same thing I shared last year on Orphan Sunday. 


Dear Orphan,

I saw your picture today and heard about your plight. Your face is so beautiful and sad, and it tugs at my heart.


I hear you don't get enough to eat, and that there isn't always medicine if you get sick. You sleep in a room with many children, but you still feel alone.


You have never had anyone wish you a "Happy Birthday", give you a gift, or even sing you a lullaby goodnight. No one has ever told you about Jesus or that He loves you.


I wish we could adopt you, but....

It is such a long way to travel, it would cost so much money, and it involves so much paperwork.
Our home isn't very big, and we already have children. Adding another child to our family would mean they would have to share a bedroom as well as our love and attention.
What if you have health issues or special needs that are not yet diagnosed?
You might have a hard time adjusting to a family after never knowing one, or have "issues" from years of neglect, malnutrition, mistreatment, or abuse.

I'm sorry, it just feels like too much of a risk and sacrifice. Adoption doesn't really feel like our "calling". Maybe there is another family....

Written by Amy B.
http://justamomofseven.blogspot.com/2011/11/i-wish-i-could.html