This morning I gazed upon an angel! No, I’m not talking about Larry, I’m talking about our sweet Riley! I say she is an angel because she is still sleeping and lying there snuggled in the blankets I can almost see a halo! She came for a “sleepover”! She brought five movies, her Christmas Pjs and a change of clothes. That is much simpler than it used to be when diapers, bibs and bottles came with her. Soon she will wake up and Grandpa and Grandma’s life “as we know it” (leisurely coffee drinking and relaxing) will change. Riley will soon be seven years old and she goes a mile a minute, last night she even asked if I could take her a ride on the tractor when morning came. That’s why I am being very quiet, as to not disturb her, since it is frigid out side and this “bed head” I don today does not need to be frozen into place.
Like any birth we knew Riley was coming, we even knew she was a girl and it seemed we waited forever for her to be born. While waiting to adopt Riley, Christa and Todd made many plans for her, as did a very anxious Grandma and Grandpa! Daddy wanted to make sure there was enough money to raise this little girl, Mommy wanted to everything perfect in her nursery and well…. Grandpa and Grandma wanted to get lots of love time! Finally Riley arrived and within hours we were all there to greet this precious new addition to our family. I was amazed at the love we all instantly felt for this one so new. This one who was not born of our flesh but was definitely born into our hearts. She immediately carried the name of her parents, she was instantly an heir to all they have. She was swept into a family of brothers, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins! It’s absolutely amazing how that happens! She has been such a blessing!
I read today anew about another adoption that took place after it was planned for a very long time ago.
How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son. Ephesians 1:3-5 (Message)
I cannot fathom the creator of the earth having me on his mind! He actually focused His love on us and made plans to adopt you and me into His family. Can you imagine our Heavenly Father taking pleasure as He planned? Yet, for how long do we run from Him not accepting his offer of adoption, that he gave through His Son, Jesus Christ? As Riley became heir to her family’s love and possessions, as heirs of Jesus Christ we become heirs of eternal life! We need only to accept Him!
This year as we open gifts and celebrate family, think of the gift of love that God, the lavish gift giver, sent to us as a babe in a manger. Emmanuel! God with us!
Well, have to get dressed, we are going for a tractor ride!
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