author: Mrs. Nerdy
I often get asked a lot of adoption questions, and rightly so.
James 1:27 says, ” 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.”
What does that verse mean? Does it mean that every Christian should adopt? Does it mean that you are not a good Christian because you have not adopted?
People share with me all the time how they would love to adopt or have always dreamed about adopting. I love that. They ask me for advice on how to start, how to pray, how to take action with the orphan epidemic. I love that too.
I want to tell you simply today that there are a ton of things that you can do RIGHT NOW that totally live out James 1:27 without adopting!
Here are some easy practical ideas on how to be the hands and feet of Jesus to orphans and widows:
* Sponsor a child. This is the simplest thing that anyone can do. Go to World Vision and sign up!
* “Adopt” a widow. Find a widow through your church, family, neighborhood, job, etc… and love on her. Invite her to family gatherings, change the oil in her car, wash her windows, send her cards on holidays, call her often and tell her you are praying for her.
* Support, pray, and encourage single mothers in a crisis pregnancy. The love of Christ will shine through you in that hug you give her and that pack of diapers you leave on her step as opposed to looking down your nose, turning your back, and leaving an adoption agency brochure in her mailbox.
* Volunteer at a crisis pregnancy center. Donate all those baby things you have around the house you no longer use.
* Pick a family that has adopted or is in the process of adopting and be their prayer warrior. You don’t even have to tell them. Just pray for them. Adoption does not end with the last piece of paperwork. It is a life-long process for everyone involved.
* Support a family that is adopting financially. 10 bucks, 20 bucks, 200 bucks, if you have the cash and God has led you, give willingly and happily. Don’t wait for them to ask or for them to have a fundraiser. Just do it. Adoption is expensive.
* Offer respite care and support to an adoptive family. Take the Mom out for coffee. Babysit the kiddos for free. There are some very hurt kids out there that come into adoptive families. Be that listening ear to Mom and Dad. Be that safe place for them to spill their heart.
* Call your local foster agency. Ask them what their needs are. Consider donating kids clothes or your time to them.
* Rejoice with an adoptive family when a child comes home. Shower them with gifts, meals, diapers, and whatever else you do for a new mom that has just had a baby. No, adoption is not like giving birth. But each child deserves to be celebrated! (Being recently blessed through the arrival of our son, I can tell you straight out that the meals I have in my fridge, clothes I have stacked on the changing table, cards in my mailbox, Facebook well wishes, and diapers in my closet mean more to me that you will know. Those little things have made us feel so loved.)
Below is the lead singer of Third Day, Mac Powell. This clip is 10 minutes long. Watch this, especially the last 3 minutes. It will change how you think about adoption.
How do you live out James 1:27?
