To Be Called

Like my new header? Simple and to the point right? It's the header I've wanted from the beginning, but Blogger doesn't have a template to do it the way I wanted it. So after some creative thinking, converting of files, figuring out how to correctly enter things, two and a half hours of trying and retrying, yada, yada, yada, and so on and so forth, I finally ended up with the header you see here. I probably know I did things the hard way. That's just how I roll. Ten years ago I had to code an entire webpage for one of my college classes. I did it once and swore I would never do it again. I completely and purposefully erased all that knowledge from my brain. Which is why I took two hours to do one stinkin header.

On to more important and controversial topics . . . I've heard quite a few adoptive parents make the comment lately that "everyone should adopt". At first I thought it was just a general comment because they were so happy as adoptive parents, but then I realized that a lot of these people are serious. They seriously think that every good citizen who is physically, mentally, and emotionally capable of parenting should adopt.

Personally, I think it's like saying "everyone should move to Africa" or "everyone should be a youth pastor". I realize that there are a huge number of children in this world in need of adoptive families that will never be adopted. Most statistics state that there are around 143 million orphans in our world. That number doesn't include children in foster and group homes. But despite this, I don't think everyone is "called" to be an adoptive parent.

How do you know you are supposed to adopt? The desire you feel is more than just a desire to help an orphan or an obligation to "save" a child. It's a desire to love and parent through the process of adoption. You feel a passion for a child that goes beyond just wanting to help out. I think that adopting out of obligation can lead to major problems in your relationship with the child in the future.

So no, I don't think everyone is called to adopt, but I do think everyone is called to help. I said earlier that there are far more orphans and foster children than adoptive homes in this world. The fact is, many, many children will live out their lives in orphanages and foster homes, and even if you aren't called to adopt you can help to make these homes safe and healthy places to live.

So, while, you'll never hear me saying "everyone is called to adopt", you will hear me adamantly stating that everyone needs to find a way to help the children both here and around the world who have no way to help themselves.

Give money, give food, give time, give guidance . . . just give something.

Blessed Beyond Measure

Luke 12:48 (the second half) "For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask more."

Not everyone is called to adopt. Not everyone is called to be a missionary in a foreign land. Not everyone is called to visit the homeless. Not everyone is called to teach Sunday School. But everyone is called. In one way or another you are called to give back.

By American standards, I'm not considered wealthy. Are we financially stable? Sure! Can we pay our bills? Oh yeah! But wealthy? I don't think so. But by the World's standards, I am wealthy. According to most of the statistics I found around 1.5 billion people in this world live in extreme poverty. And most of those are in what we call developing nations or third world countries. They aren't just hungry, they are literally dying of disease and starvation and living in conditions that we cannot even fathom.

I realized last night as I sat in my big bathtub filled with hot clean water (sorry, it's one of the only places I have a quiet moment to think), in my air conditioned house, where the cupboard is far from bare, that I have been given much. And that much is required of me. I think we, both Patrick and myself, began to realize this a long time ago, but last night it really came into perspective.

So one of the ways that we will give back is through adoption. I am not saying that you are supposed to run out and adopt a child. If it's not in your heart then it would never be the right thing for you. What I am asking is that you look at your life. Have you been given much? I'm not just referring to finances . . . I'm referring to family, I'm referring to health and the availability of health care, I'm referring to food on the table (even when it seems a little meager), I'm referring to a roof over your head, I'm referring to clean running water. "To whom much is given, from him much will be required".

Can you teach Sunday School and minister to the lives of little children? Can you donate to the local food bank? Can you give financially to a missionary or a group supporting missions? Can you give time and volunteer at a local school? Can you read with a child for a couple of hours a week? Can you donate a box for Operation Christmas Child this fall? Can you sponsor a child in a foreign country? Can you give to an orphanage? Can you send used clothes to tornado victims? Can you be a mentor? Can you help in the church nursery? The list is never ending. You don't always have to shout God's Word on the street corner, you can live it through your actions.

The poster above is used with permission from our adoption agency All God's Children International. Not only do they facilitate adoptions, but they also have orphanages and minister through mission trips. I am very passionate about helping children in need. Nothing is more heartbreaking to me than to see children dying of starvation and preventable (easily preventable diseases). This is getting long. I could go on and on, but I'm going to stop. Below are links to three organizations that I believe in and trust. If you have some time take a look at what they are doing. And spend some time thinking about how you can help. This is by no means an advertisement for these organizations, and I'm not asking you to give to them and them alone. I'm just asking you to give back in someway somewhere.

All God's Children International
Ambassadors to the Nations
Samaritan's Purse