“Why did you decide to do this?”–the most frequently asked question. I have stumbled around the answer for the past couple of weeks as we’ve been sharing our news of beginning this adoption process. I have no other explanation for how we got here other than the Lord moving our hearts. Over the course of the past year or so, there were small decisions along the way that led us to consider this path of domestic adoption.
To be honest, I’ve always been a little bit scared of the adoption process. Growing up in the church, I knew it was a good thing, something that reflected the gospel. But in the deep parts of my heart, I always hoped it was something that others were called to do, not necessarily myself. It seemed hard. It seemed full of so many unknowns. It is both of those things. However, throughout the past year, as the Lord has brought this process to mind, it didn’t seem scary anymore. I was excited and hopeful for what the Lord could do in and through our family.
Not only is this a process by which we will grow our family, but we see it as a season of ministry our family is stepping into. We are making a lifelong commitment to partner with this child’s biological parents and work together for his or her wellbeing. We are committing to raise this child to know the ways of the Lord and to continuously share the Good News with his or her birth parents, all while hoping to maintain a lasting and meaningful relationship with them.
We decided to sell homemade candles as part of our fundraising efforts. I wanted the label to have something to do with adoption–or at least share something about our story and the gospel–something unique from a candle you see on the Target aisles. I came across this verse,
“The Lord, my God, lights up my darkness.”
(Psalm 18:28b, NLT)
As I began to dive deep into the logistics of candle-making, it hit me. This is exactly our hope through adoption. God can take the most critical and painful times in life and turn them a bit lighter. Just as a candle emits even a small flame, God and His Word can brighten, ever so slightly, the darkest of times. I pray, even years down the road, God would continue to work in the hearts of the birth parents, our hearts, and the heart of our child as he or she grows to know of the Lord and the story of how He placed them in our family.
STRIPE charges an online processing fee (2.2% +.30 USD per transaction)*. Your donations will be decreased by this amount. You may also send a check payable to “Lifesong for Orphans”. In the memo line please write “Schumpert 10239”, to ensure it is credited to our account. Please mail to Lifesong for Orphans, PO Box 9, Gridley, IL 61744.
Lifesong has been blessed with partners who underwrite all U.S. administrative and fundraising costs (TMG Foundation and other partners). That means 100% of your donation will go directly to the adoption.
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