Adopting Rachel

December 8, 2016

Three years ago on December 8, while I was frying bacon, God asked me to say yes to foster care. 

Several times in my life His voice has been so authoritative, that I had no doubt it was Him speaking. December 9, 2013 was one of those times. 

Today- exactly three years later – we adopt Rachel Grace Lawrence. The coincidence is too profound to be coincidence. I know the timing is divinely orchestrated. 

On that day three years ago when I said yes, I thought I was giving God the gift of my obedience. As it turns out, I’m the one who got the gift. God has faithfully honored our feeble and imperfect obedience by giving us Rachel.

As I try to write about it, I realize I am incapable of conveying the amazing grace of it all – the magnitude of God’s plan and goodness. But how I want to!

Rachel dear, I love you. You are God’s gift to me, and one of the surest evidences of God’s love. He has taught me about Himself through you in ways I never anticipated. In you, the story of redemption and salvation has exploded into reality. When I hold you, I hold a living, breathing example of God’s redemption. And through you, I have a better understanding of my own. 

I pray you grow up knowing for certain that God loves you. That He looked down, saw you helpless and destined for destruction and said, “Not this one.” He snatched you up and tucked you under His wings. You are proof of His goodness in a world gone bad.

May you embrace your rescue, not focusing on your former circumstances, but rather on the greatness of your Rescuer. May you walk in confidence that you are immeasurably valuable to Him. 

I am honored that He picked me to be your mother. I don’t deserve you. Everyday I’m grateful He brought you to me and I’m astounded as I watch His work unfold in your life. 

“I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands.” – Isaiah 49:15-16