Put On Love

In seeking wisdom about adopting we've received a wide span of advice.  From 'Don't do it, it's too hard!' to 'It's the most incredible blessing ever!'  That seems confusing to someone considering such a huge undertaking!

The nays say it's too hard to really and truly love a child that's not yours, that's not your true bloodline.  But I've seen too many families that have proved this wrong!  Families that have adopted or even blended families can either do this really well or unfortunately sometimes not.

So to sort it out in my own mind I compare it to what Christ did for us.  He loved us while we were sinners (Romans 5:8  God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.)  And of course if you have or have been around children, they are sinners.  At times it can even be hard to like a child being extremely difficult and challenging, bloodline or not, but we still need to love them.  That may be the exact reason why a child would act in such a sinful manner, searching to see if they are truly loved.  It would never be the child's fault for not being or feeling loved, that weighs solely and completely on the parent.

God is love.  He defines it and gives us the desire for it.  It's completely our responsibility as parents to teach and exemplify love, in all occasions, through all trials, no matter how challenging or difficult it may be.  And if we ever fall short, we should be quick to repent and change OUR hearts!  Colossians 3 covers this beautifully.

Verse 5 says, "Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry."  These are deceitful things that can draw our love away.  There are projects, entertainment, even serving that can distract us from loving our children.  Deuteronomy 6:5-7, "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.  And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."  We need to be teaching love all the day long. 

Verses 7 and 8, "In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.  But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth."  We were there, we were and still are sinners, Christ died for us!  For me!

So then we have verse 12 and 13, "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive."

1 Peter 4:8 "Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins."

And nothing could wrap it up better than verses 14 and 15, "And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.  And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful."

No matter what child comes across your path, since God created them, thank Him, and love them with a diligence that would never for a moment allow them to question the power of love!  Love earnestly!