How Families Are Made

Terryon’s baptism, five years ago

Seems like a silly thing to write about, huh? A couple gets married, they have children, and that’s a family…right? Oh sure, if you wanna be boring about it.

That’s the way our family began. We had six daughters in a row before the Lord began to add to us through the miracle of adoption. And after a few adoptions, He began sending us single adult friends, who didn’t have family nearby. They were like honorary aunts and uncles, always there in a time of need, always ready to help or to hang out. Some we met on a church travel trip to Israel, one we met when she was a nurse where Courson spent eight weeks in the NICU. These friends became family and were welcome at holiday meals as though they had always been an extension of us.

Then He began sending us older children, most in their early 20’s. Some we met through a service project in the hood, some came over because they were invited by our “boys in the hood.” Some just came because they “liked how we did family,” and just began coming over every Saturday night. Now they come over for holiday meals and call us Mama and Dad. Our kiddos are glad to have such awesome big brothers and sisters.

And if that wasn’t enough, He even gave me an honorary grandmother in the faith. Generationally, He has surrounded us with family.

From learning to love beyond our natural, blood given family line, and welcoming those just in need of family, we have learned so much and been by far the most blessed in these relationships.

I am not writing to brag or boast at all, because truly with each one of these members of our family, the Lord brought us together. I want to encourage you to look around, see who God may have put near you that needs a family. Keep your eyes open for that single sister at church, that young teen whose own family broke apart a few years ago and he needs someplace to feel loved and understood. Maybe it’s a co-worker, transplanted far from their family. Open your eyes, open your home and your heart. Their not looking for perfection in your home or expecting much from you…they just need love.

“God sets the solitary in families…” – Psalm 68:6

This verse became precious to us when we were given our first son through adoption, but over the years, we have just been so blessed to see how He brings the solitary to us and adds to our family in so many ways. Keep your eyes open and see how He may want to add to your family!