Born For Adversity

The baby is no longer ours.  Sitting in Romania, next to my wife, we heard the news we did not want to hear over the Skype phone. Another chance at a baby, lost.  It all started years earlier, when my wife and I lost our baby just six weeks after conception.  Sitting in the emergency room, dejected, it was a crushing blow.  How do we deal with this? Would we ever have children of our own?  I did not know, but I did grasp that we had the Lord, each other, our families, and friends to lean on for support during this trying time.  We were not alone.

When we are deeply troubled in our spirit, we naturally seek support and counsel from those who love us. This deep unity is a built in support system that the Lord provides all of us.  He knows that it is not good for us to be alone.  We need each other.

Proverbs 17:17 “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”

Love At All Times

After  5 years of trying to conceive, we decided to private adopt. We entered the process of others choosing for us.  Would someone choose us?  During these trying times when never lost the feeling that our friends and family were bathing us in love.  Most importantly, we loved each other, and did not blame the other for the lack of a baby.

Who do you need to support with love right now?

Can you remember a time when you felt most supported in a time of crisis?

Born for Adversity

Just six months after our fateful phone call in Romania, we received another call about a baby who would be born in one month in Indiana.  The lawyer’s representative asked us if we would be willing travel to Indiana for the adoption.  Of course, we were excited and quickly made plans to travel to Indiana.  On the day of the adoption, we looked at our son through the NICU window full of love for him and each other.  Years of waiting and disappointment were finally over. Our family was finally growing.  Three years later, we adopted two more brothers through the foster care system.

Three brothers born and ready to help each other through adversity. Three brothers born to love at all times.  Three brothers born who made a family whole again.

What adversity have you had in your life that someone helped pull you through?

How can you help your family and friends through adversity?

The Holy Bible: New International Version. 1984 (Pr 17:17). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.