“God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.” Ephesians 1:5 (NLT)

I am not adopted in the earthly sense. But, I have been adopted as a child of God. And that right there means so much. Just thinking about what it means to adopt a child – to choose to love and care for another as your own – makes me humbled. Before I ever graduate high school, I thought about adoption as an option for my future family. Yet, truth be known, my attitude towards adoption in the last several years has been very close-minded. While I think adoption is not only good, but necessary, I am not sure I, personally, could ever adopt. I’d even go so far as to say “it’s not my calling”.

Then the other day, I read a post by Jon Acuff over at Stuff Christians Like, that hit me to my core. It might not be in God’s plan for us to ever have adopted children, but it is His plan for me to be “called to that”. It is my role, my calling, as a Christ follower, to love orphans and care for them, the same way Christ loves and cares for me. My heart needs to be open to orphans even if it’s not through adoption. I read in World Magazine twenty different ways to impact an orphan. I won’t list all twenty, but here are a few that impressed me:

1. Sponsor a child

We’ve all probably seen those “Sponsor a Child” commercials. They pull at my heart strings every time I see them. And for good reason. These children need help. They need food, shelter, clothing. They need love. Since the Haiti Earthquake, I’ve been praying more about sponsoring a child. Even if not a Haitian, then another child who needs our help.

2. Give financial support to an adoptive family

This one hits pretty close to home. We have several friends who have either adopted, or wish to adopt. While I don’t know the exact cost for the process, I know it’s expensive. Like crazy expensive. Giving them financial support would be huge – not only in achieving their goal, but in showing you support and love them and their child(ren).

3. Participate in mission trips to orphanages abroad

I love this idea. I love the idea of my entire family going. I want my children to have a heart for those around them. I think seeing other children with nothing, or close to nothing, would move us all to want to help in any way we can.

What are your thoughts? Do you want to adopt? Have you ever adopted?