November is a special month for many children and families. November is adoption awareness month, and November 11th is World Adoption Day. A day to recognize children that were adopted, families that adopted and bring awareness to the fact that many children around that world do not have a family of their own. On November 11th I myself think about the life that God has given me, and my parents that chose my sisters and myself to be a part of their family. November is a time for thankfulness and family; for me, I am thankful I was adopted into a family. I was adopted when I was a child, but I was not just adopted one time, I was adopted three times.
February 4th, 1999 Ruben and Pat Simmons had four little girls walk into their front door, they were greeted by two boys and and two grownups. I was fortunate to be one of those four girls. This was a scary thing for me and my sisters. We were in a new place, with people we did not know, and we did not know where our mom was or why we could not go to her. Days, months, and years went on and those four strangers were no longer strangers, they were family, they were our parents, and our brothers. We wanted nothing more than to have our last names changed, and to be our parent’s children.
On March 6th 2003, Ruben and Pat Simmons walked into court with six children. Two boys who were already adopted, and four girls who were longing to be adopted. On that wonderful day, we sat down with the judge and he asked each of us if we wanted to change our names. When it became my turn, I told him that I only wanted my last name changed, and nothing else. The judge smiled at me and agreed to that. After they signed the papers, he congratulated my parents, and the four of us on our adoption. Everyone was so happy, we got many hugs from random people in the court house (everyone knew our family) and so many pictures were taken. It was a wonderful day; we have been waiting so long to be adopted. It was a new life, it was a new begging, and, thank the Lord a new last name! I only remember a few things about this day, and one of them was cake! But the best part was having a new family, and knowing that my parents loved me and that I was theirs.
A few years later on a Wednesday night, our youth pastor was talking about Jesus Christ, and what He did for us on the cross. I already knew this because my parents took me to church whenever I wanted to go I loved church, but I was not a believer, I was not a child of God. As Pastor John keep talking, he made the statement that no matter what happens in life Christ knows, and He is our protector and Savior. When I heard that I began to realize that I needed Christ, I needed a Savior, and I needed someone to protect me and to save me. As the night ended and the music began, I went down to the alter and asked Christ to come into my heart and to forgive me of my sins. After the song ended in told my youth pastor that I gave my life to Christ, and I wanted to live the rest of my life for Him.
This was my second adoption, an adoption that would never end, and an eternal life with Christ. From that day on I have strived to live my life for Christ. I follow Him wherever He calls me to go, my life is not my own I belong to the savior of the World. The day my parents adopted my sisters and myself was one of the best day, but the day I asked Jesus Christ to be my Lord and Savior has been and will always be the best day of my life. In my life and walk with Christ, I have learned many things, and I have grown. I went to college, got a degree, and I married my best friend. Because of my adoption into Gods family I answered the call to ministry, and now I am in ministry with my husband; I get to stand beside my husband as he ministers to adults, children, and youth. My calling in life started the day that I accepted Christ and was adopted into His kingdom.
The third time I was adopted, was an adoption out of love, and one that God gave me. My life was not always easy, there were many hard times. Throughout the hard times I prayed that God would send someone to be there for me and help guide me. God is so good, and He answered my prayers. I began going to a new church and became close with the youth pastor and her husband. Throughout the years we became a family. They are the people that I call for anything, and that I can talk to about everything. They are my third adopted family, and I could not have asked for two better people to call my other parents. Don’t misunderstand me, I have two wonderful parents, that love me and take care of me, and are always there for me. In my prayers, I prayed for a mentor in my life, someone that would help me grow in my relationship with Christ, and someone that I could always look to for guidance outside of my family. God answered my prayers in more ways than one; He gave me two mentors in life, two people who became more than mentors but family. If it were not for them, I would not have gotten close to others in my church, and I would not have believed in myself the way I believe in myself now.
Adoption is something that is close to my heart, it is something that I have experienced first handed, and something that I have a passion for. One day I hope to adopt children. I hope that I can give love, and hope to a child that feels no love or hope. I pray that God sends me someone to me that I can be a mentor to, and one day will become apart of my family. Family is not just blood, family is the people that we love, care for, and would give our lives for. I have three families, but the one that matters the most is my family in Christ. As this month is coming to an end, as we are giving thanks for our families and our friends I ask you to think about the meaning of family, and what family truly means to you. Adoption is not meant for everyone, it is not meant for every family, but it is something we should not turn our backs on. We should pray for the children that don’t have people to call mom and dad, we should pray for families that are longing to have children, and families that don’t have much at all.
Adoption is a wonderful thing. It is a gift. By being adopted by loving parents and mentors was life-changing to me, we can all be part of the greatest adoption of all- entering into God’s family. He has chosen us, and all we have to do, is choose him too.
“Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens. For He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love. He predestined us to be adopted though Jesus Christ for Himself, according to His favor and will, to the praise of His glorious grace that he favored us with in the Beloved.” Ephesians 1: 1-6
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