Why "Eight Is Not Enough"?

When we were younger, there was a television sitcom that was called "Eight is Enough". The television watching world was entertained with the thought of a family with eight children. Most of us were shocked at the prospect of such a large family- myself included! Then ever so slowly, God began to work on our hearts, until we surrendered to Him all of our lives- yes even gave Him sovereign control over the size of our family and He has blessed us immeasurably, with eight biological children. Each of these children have been an amazing gift to us and we cherish each of them. And we praised God for them and felt to ourselves "eight is enough" - at least for a time.

Then God began to stir our hearts. It was as if He spoke to say to us "these 8 precious children I have given to you, but what have you given to my orphans in return?" A burden began to build on our hearts to adopt. We knew that for us God still had other plans for us as parents if we would be faithful to His calling- that eight is not enough. And so, we followed this call to adopted and He has continued to blessed us through adoption. First a sibling group of three from Soacha, Colombia. They joined our family in November, 2008. In May 2010, we adopted twin infants from Texas. In September of 2012 we were privileged to return to Colombia and adopt a sibling group of two from Cali. At this time, we anxiously wait for our travel date to depart for China where a very special girl and boy wait for their forever family. By the time they all reach adulthood, we will have had the amazing privilege to be parents of children in our home for a half century. Our life is full beyond measure, beyond our wildest expectations, yes even beyond anything we could have ever hoped. Truly, eight is not enough. As of late we have wondered if God's plan for us as parents all along was not for eight children, but rather eight plus eight. Our heavenly Father knows and His word assures us "I know the plans I have made for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you." We trust He knows the number of His children He wants us to love and to nurture on His behalf, and whether that is eight or eighty times eight we stand ready and say speak Lord, your servants are listening and are prepared to be father and mother to your fatherless on earth.

Friday, December 10, 2010

A New Begining




Last week, we flew to San Antonio, Texas for a new beginning for Makenzie and Isaiah. The laws in Texas require you to have a child in your home for six months before you can finalize an adoption. Last week we returned to Texas for the finalization in the court and a new beginning for us as a family. We have realized from the start that Isaiah and Makenzie were brought into our lives by the providence of our almighty God. But this knowledge does not keep the unsettled feeling in your stomach away when you have to go into the court to stand before the judge you have never met. Our trust in Him never left us, but I must admit we were nervous- my brother Frank prayed with us when we got to the court house- prayers that helped us in this time. We also had never met our lawyer! Our adoption agency just told us to meet him at the elevator on the second floor of the courthouse- "don't worry if he is late". An hour later a gentleman came to us and said "I'm Ron Prince your lawyer!" From there it was a joy filled and uneventfully conclusion to our 6 month wait. We were only before the judge for about 5 minutes and the adoption decree was signed. With the stroke of his pen, the judge made legal what God had indelibly written on our hearts months before. After he signed our adoption decree, the judge invited us behind the bench for a photo opportunity. As of 2:10 pm 3 December 2010, Makenzie and Isaiah are now our children in the eyes of the law and in the all seeing eyes of our Heavenly Father. Praise Him!

We got back home at 2:15 am Saturday morning- crazy busy 2 days! We had arranged to have a baby dedication service the following day. It was such a blessing to share this time with our church family and mutually commit to sheppard these young hearts and lead them to an eternal relationship with Jesus. It was my incredible privilege to speak a blessing over them as part of the dedication. Parts of this blessing below are borrowed and parts of it are my original words. Here is the blessing I gave to Makenzie and Isaiah:

Isaiah and Makenzie,
Each of you are an amazing blessing to your mother and I. You are the babies we have prayed for in a time of our life when we were to old to expect we would ever have babies again. We prayed for you knowing God was able to grant you as the desire of our hearts, but yet our faith was too small to expect that He would. We are so grateful to Him for you.

It was the Hebrew father’s place in the traditional Jewish home in the time of Jesus to bless his children, this tradition began with Isaac and Jacob. As your earthly father I am delegated by God as the spiritual head over our home and family and by His authority I speak this blessing into your lives.

Isaiah and Makenzie, I bless your entire life and every aspect of it. You are children under the New Covenant God made with His Son Jesus the Christ as the perfect and final sacrifice for your redemption. “Isaiah and Makenzie, I bless you in the name of Jesus, proclaiming the blessings of God, my Redeemer, upon you. May He give you wisdom, a reverential fear of God, and a heart of love for Him and His people.

I bless you with His Protection. Throughout your entire life may He go before you and prepare all of your paths. May He go behind you to be your rear guard, that attacks of the enemy shall in no way be able to reach you. May He place an impenetrable hedge about you all of your days so that no harm will befall you. For through this Blessing God has put His name on you, those who curse you shall know God's wrath and those who bless you shall know God's blessing.

Isaiah and Makenzie, I ask that God bless you with good health, that disease and infirmities shall never prevent you from accomplishing God’s great purpose in your life. Isaiah, God has already given you a thorn in your flesh, may He also give you wisdom to understand why and opportunity to touch other lives for Him because of it. I ask God that both you will grow strong and healthy in body, mind and soul. May He create in you the desire to attend to His words, a willing and obedient heart that you may consent and submit to His sayings and walk in His ways. May your eyes look straight ahead with purpose for the future. May you always speak the truth in love. May your hands do the works of the Father; may your feet walk the paths that He has foreordained for you. I could have no greater joy than to hear that you my children are living your lives in His truth.

I bless your relationships, that you will take the lessons you will learn as part of a multiracial home and be comfortable meeting and conversing with all people. Makenzie, you have eyes that seam to search to the very depth of my soul. May this be a reflection of who you will become, that you will look at and respond to the depth a person's character – who they are in the heart of God- rather than what they look like on the outside. Both of you are an important person and in the eyes of God there is no person who has greater value than you. Likewise there is no other person who can fulfill the purpose God has created for you. Your family will always love, nurture and support you. Short of marriage, no other earthly relationship will be more important to you. But even within your family, the two of you as twins have a special bond that few will ever understand completely. God has given me a small glimpse of how special this relationship is- be blessed in your relationship with one and other as unity will always be strong with you. May the Lord prepare you and your future mates to love and honor one another, and may He grant to your unions many upright sons and daughters who will live in accordance with His Word. May your source of livelihood be honorable and secure, so that you will earn a living with your own hands. May you always worship God in spirit and in truth.

I bless you with peace and happiness. May your smiles brighten many lives and may laughter be your lifelong companion.

By God’s authority I have spoke this blessing to you. Because it is spoken by His authority it is unfettered by earthly boundaries and is not subject to any limitation of man. Therefore I charge you to walk in confidence, be strong and courageous.

Dad



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1 comment:

Wendi and Benjamin Wood said...

i love it! that's beautiful! god bless all of you! congrats again!

December 12, 2010 at 7:56 AM

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