It's time we tell you - You're adopted.

Galatians 4

1 What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2 The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3 So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world. 4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

I have a friend who just returned home from Columbia where they adopted a little girl. They have posted dozens of pictures and given a running account of the process which began years ago with applications and even another prior adoption which fell through at very much the last minute.

The mommy posted a simple note on FaceBook Christmas morning saying, "This is my first Christmas season relating to Joseph as the adoptive parent. God's love is amazing for all of us!!! Merry Christmas to all far and near!"

Hope and I attempted an adoption close to 25 years ago. I still have a tiny hole in my heart over the entire thing - the mother changed her mind at the last moment and backed out. We wanted so badly to help little Alexander out of a tough situation, but it was not to be. We had taken very few steps really - we had spent some time with an attorney (a friend who was going to help us find another attorney who specialized in private adoption), we began plans for converting our other bedroom into a room fit for a little man, we bought some toys - OK, I bought some toys, Hope was far more reserved about the whole thing. And we traveled to southern California to pick the boy up for a weekend 'trial.' - we lived in San Jose, CA at the time.

My point is that we went way out of our way to adopt this boy. But we didn't go nearly as far as our friends who ended up spending weeks in Columbia meeting diplomats, officials, agents, going to consulates and embassies - just to be sure all the paperwork was finished before flying home JUST in time for Christmas.

But even they didn't go to the great lengths that God went to, just to adopt you and I as sons and daughters. Wow. Thanks.