My wife and I recently returned from adopting our two year old daughter in Ethiopia.  We began this journey nearly four and a half years ago.  We spent just under three weeks in Ethiopia finalizing the adoption and returned the week before Christmas.  While I still have much to process about this experience, here are some lessons I have learned thus far about our adoption journey.

1. Adoption is hard.  Many may see adoption as a glamorous picture, but the reality is that adoption is hard on everyone involved.  The family adopting as well as the child being adopted all experience the challenges of this journey.  There are many highs and lows throughout the process.  Good news is often accompanied by not so good news.  Learning to trust in God’s timing and plan is necessary.
2. Adoption is a picture of the gospel.  Paul says we “have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father'” (Rom 8:15)!  Abba Father is a personal and intimate term only those who belong to God can use.  We are able to call God our Father because we have received the Spirit through faith in Jesus.  We once were not children of God, but now we have been brought into His family through Jesus.  Our daughter, too, once had no family of her own, but now belongs to our family and calls me “daddy.”
3. Adoption is a relentless pursuit.  When my wife and I began this journey four and a half years ago, we did not realize how relentless we must be.  We said we would pursue our daughter no matter the cost or challenge, but we had no idea what that would entail.  On the day that we met our daughter for the first time, she ran away from us crying.  She wanted nothing to do with us…at first.  We were not deterred by her resistance.  In fact, we were determined all the more to pursue her.  Oh, how this pursuit reminds me of God’s pursuit of us.  Though we wanted nothing to do with God, He pursued us at all cost (Titus 3:3-7).
4. Adoption is permanent.  On the day of our court appointment with the judge, he asked us if we realized that this adoption is permanent. “Absolutely!” we replied.  Our daughter, on that day, became a permanent part of our family.  While in God’s plan this was certain before time, on that court date it became a realized reality.  She is now part of her forever family.  Again, what a reminder of God’s permanent adoption of us into His family.  Nothing can separate us from His love (Rom 8:31-39).

While I will continue to learn lessons from my daughter, I am grateful for these past few weeks with her.  Adoption is not easy, but neither was the cross.  In order to bring us into His family, God gave everything (John 3:16).  He relentlessly pursued us in order bring us into His forever family.

I love Christmas.  As the song says, it is truly “the most wonderful time of the year.”  There is just a special spirit at this season that in unlike any other.  The sights and sounds of Christmas seem to bring out the child in all of us.

Our trees are put up, nativity and carolers in place, advent candles on the table, and Christmas music playing.   Christmas parades, complete with marching bands and Santa Claus, are in almost every town.  There are Christmas parties and church programs to attend, Christmas cards, shopping, and gifts wrapped in pretty paper and bows.

Christmas to me is family.  It was always a special time at our house as we planned our family gathering, the food we would eat, baking and candy making, giving and receiving gifts, and just being together.

One of the most memorable gifts I received as a young toddler was a baby doll.  I do not remember the doll as much as the homemade cradle that my dad made, and the quilt and pillow that my mother made for my doll.  These were special gifts because of the extra love my parents had for me as they “made” these gifts.

Another memorable gift was the bicycle I received from an older sister when I was six years old.  It was my first year of school and her first year to teach school.  This was a gift that I enjoyed for many, many years.

One of my favorite parts of Christmas is the music.  I recall Christmas band concerts and parades, and the church Christmas programs that I was a part of.  As a college student at Eastern Kentucky University I looked so forward each year to attending the performance of the “Messiah.”

And the memories go on and on.  We all have our Christmas memories and traditions.  But, with everything we do, let’s never forget that we have Christmas because of Jesus.  I never remember a Christmas in our house that the true meaning of Christmas was not at the forefront.

With all we do this Christmas let’s be sure to include Him in our celebrations.  Include Him in our decorations, in the cards we send, and in the music we sing. Let’s include Him in our greetings to people as we smile and say “Merry Christmas.”

Christmas is a time when more people seem to be open to hearing the true story of Christmas, so let us be ready to share that message.  It may just cause someone to receive the special Gift of Christmas.