Mothers, Fathers, Aunties, and Uncles

When Charise and I went to Uganda, I discovered we were adopted by the children before we had a chance to carry out our mission of adoption!  From the get go the kids referred to us as “Mommy” and “Auntie” or “Daddy” and “Uncle” (unfortunately the text totally loses the epic, little kid, British accent).  They held our hands, jumped in our laps, and wanted us to carry them on our shoulders.  Just like with my own kids, I had to be careful not to let them laugh too hard while on my shoulders because I could literally feel their drool smack my baldhead…awesome!  In a lot of ways, it felt like I had not left my biological kids on the other side of the world!  In less than 24 hours of knowing each other we all fit into our familial roles.  It was absolutely beautiful!

           

Seeing this process unfold brought a deeper revelation of how God sees family.  I have understood this idea of having brothers and sisters in Christ bound by the blood of Christ in theory but now, a tangible reality.  In the devastation, brokenness, and desperation these children cry out to us to be what they lack - family.  Most of these children have no clue what the word “adoption” even means.  They just know what they need – a mom and a dad and they designated us to be that.  It is funny how in desperation we often see what the core of our being is in need of.  When my soul was in turmoil and desperate, I cried out to God, but I didn’t call him God, I called him Father because that is what I knew I needed.  I did not need “The Man Upstairs”.  I did not need a moral code to follow.  I needed the comfort and unconditional love of a father, and my desperation led me to call on Him, The Father of the fatherless (Psalm 68:5).            

What I have begun to realize is that our little Martin has a huge family!  I believe that adoption is a call to all followers of Jesus (James 1:27), but it will look a little different for everyone.  I have been absolutely wrecked to see how many friends and family members of ours have been faithful to partner in our adoption.  From prayer, donations, counsel, work bonuses, one friend started cutting two lawns a week to help support us, and I just found out another friend got a part time job at Starbucks and wants to give us all the money he makes (what the …???!!!).  There is a precious little boy in Uganda who cries out in his desperation for a family and what I am finding out is he has mommies, daddies, aunties, and uncles everywhere answering his cry! 

We know the road is still long ahead of us, but our lives have already been so much richer watching the body of Christ function like Christ.  Our tears and thank you’s would not even come close!  We love you.