Get Out of the Boat

This past Sunday, our pastor gave a sermon about Jesus walking on water.  How many times have I heard that story in my lifetime?  It's always been one of my favorite miracles from the Gospels.  We've even performed the scene during Christmas Live for the past few years.

You know how it goes:  The disciples start crossing the Sea of Galilee and a storm comes up.  Meanwhile, Jesus was back on land praying.  Then suddenly, the disciples see a "ghost" walking on the water!  They realize it's Jesus and Peter (a man after my own heart!) wants in on the miracle, so he steps out onto the water too. 

Did you catch that?  He stepped out on the water too.  Peter, a simple human with no God-like power whatsoever, stepped out and walked on water.  How did he do it?

Simple:  Jesus.  Oh, and the fact that Peter was willing to step out of the boat.

There is nothing in this world that could make you believe that you can walk on water.  It's just not physically possible!  Likewise, there is nothing in this world that can make the Etter family believe they can adopt a special needs child filled with trauma and show him the love of a family.

In just seven days, our lives as we know them will be forever changed.  We reminisce back to those few days before Vivien was born.  There was so much that we didn't know.  Nothing can prepare a new parent for the upheaval that a new child brings.  The same is true now for this new addition to our family.  There are plenty of unknowns.   We are excited and just a smidge terrified of them!

When we pick up Nikolay, we will be forever ripping him from the only home he has ever known.  There will be sadness and mourning that we will share with him over this.  He will grieve his life as he knew it, and we will also grieve our lives as well.   It will be difficult and tiresome for all of us - like any family with a new addition.  We will adapt, and we will learn, and we will love.

If there is anything we've learned over these last two-and-a-half years, it's to lean in on God.  Because adoption, much like parenting in general, is not done by our might or power, but by the Spirit of the Lord.