A Story of Four People...

This is a story about four people who heard the call to adopt a child:
EVERYBODY, SOMEBODY, ANYBODY and NOBODY.

There was a call for people to open their homes and hearts to adopt newborns, older children without parents, children who were neglected or abused, children with medical or emotional challenges, sibling groups who wanted to be adopted together and children whose parents couldn't care for them.

EVERYBODY was asked to do this. EVERYBODY was sure that SOMEBODY would adopt these children. ANYBODY could have adopted them, but NOBODY did.

SOMEBODY got angry about that because it was EVERYBODY'S job. EVERYBODY thought that ANYBODY could do it, but NOBODY realized that EVERYBODY wouldn't do it.

It ended up that EVERYBODY blamed SOMEBODY, when actually, NOBODY did what ANYBODY could have done.

BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HEAR GOD'S INVITATION TO ADOPT CHILDREN AND RESPOND!
-Adapted by Mary Ann Valenti Boyer
-LifeLines Fall 2006


Christians are mandated to be restorers of hope for children around the world, as commanded in James 1:27 (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)

For I am the Lord, your God, who take hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Isaiah 41:13

"For I know the plans I have for you" Declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

But now, this is what the LORD says -- he who create you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine...Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the East and gather you from the West. I will say to the North, "Give them up!" and to the South, "Do not hold them back" Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth--Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."
Isaiah 43:1,5-7

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?...Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. James 2:14-17

God has proven that He delights in giving us the desires of oru heart if we will trust Him and wait on His timing. Amy Rich, adoptive Mom, GA

As adoptive parents we understand more fully what it really means that God adopted us as His children. We aren't second choice, we are His own.
--Brian De Vos, Bethany employee and adoptive dad