Gabriela, the younger of my two grandnieces, has not had the same awareness her older sister had, that I was her heart-adopted “grandma.” It came naturally to Arianna because I was blessed to care for her as an infant, and for some of her toddler years, during many of the days that her mom worked. And Arianna shared a lot of those days with Evan who was two years older and grandma was truly who I was. When a move took Arianna farther away from my house, the days of her coming in and out on a regular basis, ceased. Still though, I was “grandma” to her and my heart-adoption of Arianna embraced Gabriela too when she was born. Visits with both the girls still happened, but Gabriela took a bit longer to realize I was sorta, kinda, a part of the family. The more we have been together, the more easily she has responded to me, and just recently, I heard her almost shout, “Gan-ma!!” when she wanted my attention while she was playing. I was delighted, and knew that we were finally living in the reality of my heart-adoption.
Sometimes I wonder how long it takes for us to live in the reality of the heart-adoption that has taken place between us and God. Just as Jesus called the little children around Him millenniums ago, God calls us today to be His children, and when we respond to His call, He says we have a right to hold onto – a right to declare to the world – I am a child of God! He responds and relates to us in the similar, but perfected ways, that we respond and relate to our own children. With a love that is boundless, extravagant, possessive, and patient, He is quick to remind us of His forgiveness, diligent to watch over us, passionate about teaching, nurturing, leading, and directing us. Like the youngster who attempts to walk in his Dad’s oversized shoes, God longs for us to walk in His footsteps and be just like our Dad! The riches of His estate are the inheritance, the heritage, He desires for us to possess.
He places His Spirit within us to assure us with those quiet, confident whispers, “God is my Daddy! He has adopted me!” There is a freedom from the cares and concerns of the world we live in and a freedom from the hideousness and consequences of the sin that scars our world – a freedom He wants us to know and live out with confidence, boldness, and fearlessness. It is a freedom that pulsates with a heart of love and gratitude for my Father-God. It is a freedom that grows the more we are together to simply and instinctively call Him, “Daddy,” and to say it with intimacy, warmth, and a sense of belonging.
And God’s response??? Knowing the delight of living in the reality of a heart-adoption with one my heart has captured, I can only imagine ......
– Bev
(Related Bible reading: John 1:10-13; Galatians 4:4-7)
