The first few days after we received the adoption referral are burned forever in my mind. Two daughters instead of one. Suddenly, my life path had taken a completely unexpected turn. Over and over the same question arose in our home?
“How can we possibly parent five children?”
The question may have been the same but it was set in a slightly different context each time. Sometimes, we wondered how we would have the space in our home. Others, we questioned if it were possible to fit so many booster seats into our van. Many times, I asked myself if I had the emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical resources to be a mother of five.
Most of all, we wondered how on earth we would ever financially provide for so many children.
Then, God led me to an amazing passage of scripture which gave us the courage to say “yes” to our new daughters.
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written:
“He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” 2 Corinthians 9:6-11
There have been so many times in the past two years in moments of desperation that my heart turned back to the promise that God would provide seed to sow into the lives of my children.
Seeds of wisdom when I don’t know how to guide…
Seeds of courage when the problem before me seems insurmountable….
Seeds of endurance when it seems I labor endlessly with no sign of the fruit of my labors………
Seeds of joy when the road before us is marked with sorrow……
Seeds of hope…..
Seeds of peace……..
Seeds of financial resources to provide for my children.
This morning as I drove away from the orthodontist’s office, I turned to God’s promise of provision once again. Suddenly, we find ourselves in the position of having two children go into braces at the same time. (That is about $6,000.00 for those of you who don’t know.) We have already paid out about that much on other orthodontic endeavors.
Four out of the five are sure to need braces. Three of the five are in glasses. My almost thirteen year old grows out of his jeans over night it seems.
So, as I drove out of the orthodontist’s parking lot I made a decision that instead of worrying out loud in front of my children, I would pray out loud and claim God’s promise once again.
“Father,
You promised me when I committed my life to these five children that you would provide seed for sowing into their lives. Well, the seed in the bag is getting a little low. It is time for a fill up. My trust is in you. ~Amen”
I believe, I truly believe, the seed is on its way.
S, Wow… I’m totally jealous.. I took 2 of mine for a braces consult last week and it was $5680 EACH. I nearly had a stroke. Corey
Thank you for this post. We are still in the praying/discussing phase of adopting and at this point I feel lead to adopt 2 which would bring us to 6 children. Thank you for sharing these thoughts. I needed/wanted/prayed for them.
Thaks for this Sherri. I am feeling overwhelmed right now providing for my children too. We have a tax-deferred medical spending account through my husband’s employer. Last year we used up the money by the end of November ($2800). This year we have used up the money by the end of March. Usually this goes for prescription co-pays, office co-pays, therapy co-pays, etc. This year already it has gone toward three new pairs of contacts and/or glasses, arthroscopic knee surgery, an ER visit, wisdom teeth pulled, etc. You can easily see where the money went.
When my Haitian born daughter came home she had approx $900 worth of dental work done because of the severe malnutrition she had as a toddler and because of the orphanage’s practice of putting the kids down for naps with a bottle. Now after her dentist appointment last week I find out she needs another $700 worth of dental work done. These are her baby teeth we are talking about! Yikes!
I do trust that God will provide the means to pay for this–even if it means I need to pick up a few extra shifts at the hospital. I consider myself blessed to have a job where I can ‘easily’ make some extra money if I need to. But it does take me away from my family more which I don’t like.
When I read figures like that for medical/dental treatment I feel blessed that I live in a country where it’s free for children! 😀
thanks for sharing this..I love learning and being reminded of how big God is, and how gracious. We are just beginning adoption of our 4th?? from Ethiopia..and as a homeschooling mommy who sometimes wonders if her # limit was 1 (JUST JOKING!) it’s so good to remember, I don’t have the strength but He does. I love the verse you shared..I so want to reap an abundant ‘harvest’. darci 🙂
i’m back. we are now adopting two, not one! thanks so much for this post. i read the verses to my husband and we both realized what God had been telling us! so we too will jump to 5 kids. eek and whoo hoo! 🙂 and ps, i’m asking for vehicle recommends. 🙂 darci
Wow, Darci. Congratulations and welcome to the world of hugantic families. 🙂
As far as transportation…God provided us (and I mean GOD provided it) with a huge 9 passenger Explorer conversion van. It is based on a Chevy E250 chasis (my husband is providing this information). It is basically a conversion van the length of a 15 passenger van. It is the bomb. Leather seats, huge TV…I love, love, love it.
Except when I go to the pump- then I hate, hate, hate it….
Sigh…what I really want is a smart car.
Blessings!
Sherri