Something amazing, you could even call it a little miracle, happened at our childrens home last monday. It's something that I think is worth sharing. It's worth sharing because not only is it the orphan's story, but it's our story. It's your story. It's my story. It's the story of God, our loving Heavenly Father. Below is one of my friend's account of that morning. Give it a read: 

"The Filipino man and woman stepped into the nursery and all fell silent. We knew this day was coming but didn't know what it would be like. Seven month old baby Colene sat in the play area, cute as ever in her pink dress, headband, and white shoes. She stared up at them, as the couple stared back. The man began to weep as they stepped into the play pen and sat down next to their new baby daughter. Tears sprang to my eyes as millions of emotions swept over me: sadness over telling this precious little one good-bye, yet joy that she will now grow up in a loving Christian family. 

There is nothing sweeter than watching the abandoned be welcomed into a loving home. As I watched this earthly father take his daughter into his arms for the first time, I also saw the image of the Heavenly Father wrapping His loving arms around His children as they come to Him for adoption. I can't stop smiling."

Do you get it..? Do you see what Heather saw that morning? In essence, she saw an physical example of our Heavenly Father that is desperately longing for us. He is pursuing us with this infinite amount of persistence that is completely inspired by love. He would do anything to call us His own. Matter of fact, He already did everything. All this time he's been wanting us. Wanting to know our thoughts, to share in our joys and bring us comfort in our pains. He is consumed by the very thought of us. You could say that He is crazy, in love with us. And when he finally gets us, when we are finally His, there is this overflow of joy. Joy that can only be explained through tears. Tears that come unexpectantly but are the purest explanation of emotions that have been held in for so long. 

His. We are His. Finally! We were never abandoned, forgotten or a mistake. We were His. All along that was the plan. We might have taken a couple wrong turns. Maybe made a couple poor decisions. Probably did some real dumb things but all that doesn't matter. We've been forgiven, we are His and we've been adopted. 

    - ryan