Transformed Lives

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another: For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18

We don’t know exactly when it all started, but for some time we’ve had a desire to adopt.

Just before moving to Kentucky several years ago, we had begun investigating international adoption. However, God gave us our third son Isaac—so we had to put our adoption thoughts on hold. In the spring of 2009, we officially started the process by filling out the paperwork. Now, here we are—days away from a court date where we hope an Ethiopian judge will legally declare a child to be ours.

We’ve only seen three photos of Benjamin, but when our little family gathered around the computer to see his pictures, it only took about .4683 seconds for our hearts to bond to him. Todd was at McAlister’s having lunch with a friend. (Johnny Bryant is now Benjamin’s official godfather!) Amy was at Steak and Shake doing the same with the boys. Upon getting the call about the referral, we each abandoned our lunches and rushed home to see the little boy God had given to us. What a great day.

While there is so much we’ll never understand, we are confident that God is bringing us together. For months, our son was nameless and faceless to us. We remember wondering on some days if he had even been born yet. In those days of uncertainty, there were already a lot of first person pronouns being used in our house—“our” son, “my” son, “our” baby brother, “our” family. Then, with the strokes of a few computer keys, it became clearer. Those pronouns, along with our prayers and anticipations multiplied immediately and exponentially.

Benjamin is now in the care of our agency’s transition home, and we are grateful for his care. In addition to a quick union with him, our primary prayer for the little guy is that he would gain weight.

This entire process is opening our eyes to the truth of the gospel. The more we’ve thought about Benjamin, the more God has shown himself to us.

Through this experience, we are further realizing the wonder of the gracious reality that God has set his affection on us. In spite of ourselves, he has committed to us. Through Christ, he has shown his kindness to us. He has extended his faithfulness to us. He has made us his children (See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are 1 John 3:1). He has loved us first (1 John 4:19). He has delivered us from the kingdom of darkness and brought us into the marvelous kingdom of light (1 Peter 2:9). We once were lost, but now we’re found. We once had no hope. Now, Christ is in us—the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).

Some think it’s wonderful that this little boy’s life is going to be changed.

But truthfully, we are the ones whose lives are being changed.