The Least of These

We've been asked why we chose to be open to adopt a little boy of any race.

The answer is simple:

Because his race doesn't matter to us. 

I wonder how that if God loves us all the same why we have to have restrictions on who we love because of their race.

I know that when you say we'll have to learn to love a black baby, the reality is that you just don't have a full understanding.  Because, truthfully, the reality is that we're all going to have to learn to love this baby or toddler.  He wasn't carried inside of me for 9 months, he's not going to look like us, we have no relationship or bond with him. We know nothing about him at all.  I'M going to have to learn to love him and bond with him..... and that has absolutely nothing to do with the color of his skin because it'll have to happen whether he's white, black, brown, or green.  He will have to learn to love us and us him.  I only pray that happens quickly and fervently, for all of us.

And believe me, I hear you.  I understand that our 3 children may face challenges if we adopt a child of another race.  I understand they may be made fun of.  I understand that likewise, he may be made fun of as well.

But hear me loud and clear.  Our choice to adopt has nothing to do with giving our kids the easiest life possible.  Rather, it has everything to do with being obedient to the calling of the Creator to care for the least of these.

If my kids are made fun of, let it be because we opened our arms and took him in as our own.

If they're ridiculed, let them grow stronger in not seeing color, but only hearts.

If they're bombarded with questions and attacks, let them learn to stand up and defend that which is right.

If he's made fun of for being adopted, let him remember how loved he is and how much he is and will be continued to be prayed over daily.

If he sticks out in family photos and outings, may his differences shine brightly so that everyone else can see just why we love him.

And if kids are cruel to my kids, let it be because they have loved extravagantly and without any racial barriers.  

Let him always know that he's ours and that we have chosen to live and love unconditionally and without reservation. 

Because, afterall, we're reminded:

"And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."  Hebrews 13:16

I see no mention of doing good to others if they're the same race as me.

You see, we're told that:

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."  James 1:27

We're to care for the orphans because that's what God accepts as pure and faultless.  And last time I checked, there are orphans of every race imaginable desperately waiting for someone to take them in and love them as their own.

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one  of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’  Matthew 25:4

Because, aren't we all adopted into God's family?  What if he said, "I'm sorry,  Not you.  You're a Gentile."?  There would be a whole lot of us condemned to an eternity in hell.  But He reached down to all of us, Jews and Gentiles, black, white, brown, red, and everything in-between because He loves us.

It's that same sacrificial love I hope to have for our son.  To love him regardless of race, regardless of past, regardless of the history he brings.  He may be white.  He may be bi-racial.  He may be black.  He may be Hispanic.  He may be something else altogether.  But it doesn't matter to us.

Because at the end of the day, when we get our son, whatever race he may be, may it also be said of us, that we chose to live and love extravagantly and without any racial barriers.