Adoption is not an easy neither cheap process. Hours of study, research, planning, and many other efforts are dedicated by couples who want to have the opportunity to rear a child after trying so hard to bear their own. God has the desire that we come back to him, to adopt us. Hope this article helps as many as possible to realize the great love that God has for us.
Jeremy and Jinnie Thornton are a couple that we love and appreciate greatly. We got to meet them during our time in MSOP as Jinnie was working there as one of the secretaries. They planned, tried, and did everything to bear a child, but it did not happen. They decided to adopt and after a lot of efforts and paperwork, they were able to adopt Jolee. We love Jolee greatly, Jinnie asked Jacky to take care of Jolee while she worked at the school and we loved to have her at our home. Jolee might be little but she is a big pack of joy and love. Whoever meets her feels the same and get to love her. Jinnie decided to leave her work to become a full-time momma, but the school needed her to return after a few months, and she accepted it. We were without Jolee for a couple of months, but then, during the days that Jinnie were at school, Jacky took care of that precious baby. We miss her greatly since our return to Panama. Why am I saying so many things about them? Simply, they were blessed with the opportunity to adopt another baby girl recently, Jaycee Grace.
Jinnie shared a video in her Facebook profile recently, with a lot of pictures of the birth of Jaycee. Several friends commented and said that they cried when watched it. I cannot lie, I almost cry but Jacky really did it, a cry of joy. Why? In these pictures, we can see Jinnie in the labor and deliver room. She got to experience what every mom does, to hold the newborn baby, to put her closer to her chest, to share that mom and baby time that by a natural way she was not able to do but that through the adoption process she did. We loved to see those pictures, and without any doubt, we know that it is a moment that will be in Jinnie´s memories for her entire life. Jeremy was there too and shared that lovely experience with her. Jolee is now a big sister. Jaycee is blessed to be in such a warm and loving home. The rest of the family was outside of that room, patiently waiting.
When Jacky and I got married, we planned to have one child, and it did not take us a lot of efforts to do it. Jonathan, our son, is 17 years old, and we are thankful to our heavenly Father for the blessing of having him as our son. During our lives, we got to meet many couples that were not able to bear a child. Some of them decided to adopt, as Jeremy and Jinnie. There is a lot of love to give, and it is very sad to get to know about how thousands of women, because of a short moment of pleasure, got pregnant and decided to abort, when there are many other thousands that wish to have the opportunity to bring a baby into this world and care of him or her.
When the apostle Paul wrote to the Romans, he said,
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father”
Romans 8:14-15.
We are the most wonderful creature created by God (Genesis 1:26-27), but we become His children because of what Christ did. The only begotten Son of God (John 3:16) died in the cross not for our sins only, but also for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2). When we obey what our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ command us to do we show Him how must we love Him, as the apostles were told to do (John 14:15). It is not about how I feel, it is about I act and obey. Being led by the Spirit of God is not a matter of feelings, but of obedience, and the Spirit leads us through the Word of God, which is the Bible. When we do what is required of us, according to the Scriptures, we are adopted as the children of God. What a wonderful blessing to be called “son of God” or “daughter of God”! How amazing is that we can cry “Abba, Father”! We stop to be just creatures and become God’s children, “then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17).
Jaycee Grace will be reared in a Christian home. Her loving parents and big sister will love, protect, and provide to her. She will grow and learn about God and His love for His creation. Adoption is a blessing from God and a way to show how He taught us to love.
“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God”
1 John 4:7.
Let us study the Word of God and live according to what He expects from us. It might be the case that you have not do it and would like to reconcile with Him, and the only way to do that is through His Son Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). If you are reading this, then you are still in time to do it. Whatever your situation may be, if you want to know what is needed to become a “child of God”, please get in touch with us, or reach the church of Christ in your community. We will love to help you to be one of God’s children.
God bless you!
NOTE: Jinnie, and other members from the church of Christ started, a couple of years ago, a Foundation to help Christian couples in their desire to adopt children and rear them in Christian homes. More info is available at https://www.ahomeforjolee.org/