Why are we doing this?

       As we travel down this road to adoption we have been faced with many personal questions from well meaning friends and family.  We try our best to find out the truth in everyone’s statements and use those comments and present them to the Lord to see what we can take with us and what is better left ignored. 

      This past week we had a particularly tough week with people pointing out the most negative aspects of our decision to adopt.  Many people think that we are just plain crazy.  Why would a nice, normal family purposely choose to bring pain, suffering, anger, and danger into their home?  What would possess a family who is comfy and cozy to bring in a child that has major issues, doesn’t speak English, and has had a life where adults tend to be people he can’t trust.   These are all valid questions and we have been talking and praying about them a lot.  This is what we have come up with as a answer.

     As disciples of Christ we have a very different reality of this temporary world.  Christ came into this world and was faced with seemingly insurmountable pain and discomfort yet he came anyway.  He came and purposely subjected his self to suffering in order to show his amazing love and grace towards humanity.  He did things that made others look and think of him as foolish and even insane.  Despite what others thought of him as being weak and crazy he shocked the world when after he willingly laid his life down for all of us, he rose again on the third day to prove to the world that He came to conquer sin and death.  That is the truth of the gospel (good news). 

     We understand that God never promised us comfort.  The Bible doesn’t include a verse that says, “And the children of God shall find comfort in all they do.”  But there are a lot of verses that talk about the opposite of comfort, and that is suffering. 

For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him.  Philippians 1:29

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.  1 Peter 2:21

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  2 Corinthians 4:17

Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin.  1 Peter 4:1

     We are aware that we cannot fix Vitaliy.  We can’t heal his broken places, we can’t make him love us or accept us as his forever family.  We can love him, guide him, show him, teach him, protect him, and sacrifice for him but only God can heal him.  We are trying to be realistic in our expectations and lay down our starry-eyed enthusiasm that Vitaliy will make our home a wonderful place.  We know that this road is very costly financially and will be emotionally trying but we are choosing to be uncomfortable momentarily on this earth to follow God’s heart, “Whoever receives a child in My name, receives Me.”   Matthew 18:5 

We appreciate you support, encouragement, and prayers as we follow God’s leading to bring Vitaliy home.