The Gift of Time: One Family’s Adoption Journey
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
—Romans 8:18
Paul wrote this verse referring to our momentary suffering during our time on Earth and our eternal bliss when we’re fully united to the Lord. But we can also see glimpses of this verse practically lived out in our day-to-day lives.
Have you ever had to make a decision that caused more suffering in the short term but brought way more good in the long term? The following family chose the harder road, knowing that it would be well worth it in the end.
Some families spend years pursuing adoption and waiting for a match. In this family’s case, adoption pursued them.
In their words…
Through my sister, we learned of a baby that was placed in the foster system. We had prepared ourselves to foster in our own state. We had just completed the process when she reached out and asked if we could help their family. My sister couldn’t take the baby because she was 40 weeks pregnant at the time, and no other family members were able to take the baby home.
We immediately said yes!
God Gives You Options
The baby’s family reached out and asked us about the possibility of adopting her into our own, knowing she would never have stability in her birth family. We again were both thrilled and humbled at the opportunity God presented us to raise her into our family.
We had two options.
One: A lengthy, risky placement process through the foster system.
Two: A private adoption with our own funds.
Obviously, the second option would require more funds, but we knew we needed to take her home right away. We stepped out with a lot of faith but very little money to adopt a baby we’d never met.
We trusted in the Lord to provide.
The Lord Provided
Lifesong was a huge blessing and provision for us to bring our baby girl home so quickly.
Because of Lifesong, our baby was placed directly in our arms and hearts without the hurdles and emotional stress that can come through the system both for the baby and the birth mother.
We couldn’t stand the thought of her going through various foster homes and losing that time together. Had we taken the lengthy, inexpensive route through the foster-to-adopt process, it would take 18 months to 2 years to bring her home. But because of Lifesong, we took Vera home at 4 months old.
That means we would just now be adopting Vera. But instead, we have been blessed to call her our daughter for 18 months!
Perhaps one of the greatest ways we’ve seen God is through the ease and provisions of being able to hand over completed funds to finish the paperwork and bring her home. We could have never been able to come up with the funds needed, especially as we serve as support-raised church planters and as a large family.
We are so thankful for your gift of bringing Vera to us so quickly so she could avoid more time in the foster system as an orphaned baby. You gave us the gift of time!
Considering adoption?
We provide adoption financial assistance to families through matching grants and fundraising tools to help bring children home.