Adopted by a Savior

“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. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together.” Romans 8:14-17

I remember the night my Mom passed away so vividly. I can recall small details that shouldn’t make a difference but paint that scene in my mind. These details call to attention the memories that defined the 14th of August as a milestone in my life. Small things…like I was wearing a shirt that had frogs on it that night. I used a blue rag to wash my Moms face. My toenails were painted a deep burgundy. The doctors left shoe was untied when he told my family that he couldn’t resuscitate her. My two high school best friends were at my grandmother’s house before 7 the next morning. In fact, they came each morning and encouraged me to eat breakfast that week. My uncle spoke to me while I was sitting on the back of dad’s truck. One evening I locked myself in my bedroom to get away from the crowds of people and I overheard one of my aunts tell another aunt to leave me alone. That detail still makes me smile. These insignificant things help to paint the scenes of loss. One memory, however, doesn’t have a detail to call it to mind. There is one memory that I carried with me for years without a single reminder to call it back to my attention. That memory is the feeling of being lost….of being forgotten in a way. Through the years, at Mother’s Day especially, I would hear individuals say that they know their mother will always love them no matter what. Those stories would tear at my heart because I didn’t have that unconditional love of a Mother anymore. I didn’t have that one person that would still love me even if I did horrible things….and I felt alone.

Now, fast forward about 10 years. I remember standing in my office. I was absolutely broken. My heart felt shattered. Tears were pouring from my eyes and the feelings of being lost and alone consumed me…and then I felt arms come around me. They were strong arms and they held me tightly. After a few moments of allowing me to cry I heard the calming sound, “Shhh…” When I could listen more clearly I heard these words, “I’m right here. I love you and I couldn’t love you more if you were my daughter.” Fast forward again to a completely different scene in my life. I was texting with this awesome lady of God when I read these words, “Baby, it would be my honor if you would call me Mama.” If this were a video blog you would see me smiling right now. Because 10 years ago I never thought that I would feel that love that only a Mother can give again. I never thought that God would restore unto me not one, but two Mothers! Two women who have adopted me as their own. They actually call me theirs! I have such an awesome family now. It’s overflowing with an abundance of love. I’m so beyond blessed to have them in my life. I’m so grateful I have this love. I did nothing to deserve it. I wasn’t expecting them to walk into my life. I didn’t really know how much I needed them. But I have them. I don’t feel like a girl who doesn’t have a Mom anymore. I feel completely blessed. So completely blessed.

I cried last night. I cried tears of joy again… As I was in prayer I thanked my Savior for restoring something so precious to me. In my spirit, God began to shower me with His love. These verses were called to my mind. “I am joint-heirs with Jesus Christ. I have been adopted as a child of God.” The sheer wonder of this is humbling. The idea that I belong to God is unfathomable. He has adopted me as His own. He has taken on all of who I am and has made me His. He has taken all my worries…all of my difficulties…all of my insecurities…all the mess that comes with me….He has taken it as His own. And just as any parent would, He made a way to provide an answer to all my trouble when He gave His only begotten Son to suffer the death of the cross. The blood that Jesus shed is sufficient to provide all that I need in this life. My adoption papers were signed 14 years ago…signed and then sealed in the Lambs Book of Life.

I pray that you don’t know the feelings of being alone….feelings of not having someone to love you unconditionally. But if you do, I’m honored to tell you that you don’t have to continue with that emptiness. God is more than able to complete your life. He is able to offer you more love then you ever imagined. He is able to fill that emptiness with such an overflowing abundance of love….The beauty is that even though we don’t deserve this love…even though we didn’t do a single thing to inherit such a blessing…it’s still offered…and offered freely as part of the adoption.

My “sister”…family as part of my adoption…explained something to me over the weekend. I had gone through one of those weeks that remind you of old pains. With those old pains brings about old insecurities. She has been so faithful to remind me that I will not lose her love…but I still battle this fear at times. She was patient as she explained that even though she might become hurt, frustrated, annoyed, and even angry with me in the future…it will not change the fact that I am her family…and a s part of her family, she will always love me. So, though I may fail in my attempts of serving my Savior…though I may become consumed with doubt and insecurities…I am still His. My human condition doesn’t change my Father’s love for me. I have been adopted as His. He loves me. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8: 35, 38, 39

Author: Britney Wilkes

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