Tony and I both grew up in very loving, giving, and privileged homes. We both had wonderful parents that cared for us and gave us the beauties of our childhood. We took for granted many experiences, such as playing sports, slumber parties, and being carried to bed even if we weren't really sleeping at night. No matter what we went through, the good and the bad, our parents were there to love us and forgive us and help us in our time of need.
Tony and I both became believers and followers of Jesus Christ at different points in our lives. I was younger, having grown up learning about God and the Bible and living what you would call a "good life" For the most part I obeyed my parents, made good grades, and was scared to rebel to much in life. Tony also grew up learning about the Bible but thought he was invincible. He thought he could say and do whatever he wanted and that God would be ok with the outcome. For both of us it came to the point of realizing how sinful we were before we saw our need for a savior. Eph. 2:4-6 says, "But God being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ- by grace you have been saved." Both of us at different times came to the realization that we were dead in our sin. Our sin might have looked different but we were both just as dead as the other one. Both of us could only do as much as a dead person could in order to have a right relationship with God, and that was nothing. A dead person can't move, breathe, think, or make their way to a good and Holy God. And that's where we were. But GOD, who is rich in mercy chose to pour his grace onto mine and Tony's lives and give us a relationship with him. This came through the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ and this is our adoption story.
How does this relate to being an orphan. At one point in our lives we did not know the creator of this world as our father. We were living our lives searching for what the world had to offer instead of what God had to offer. We weren't living in light of the way we were created to live. This led to a certain desperation in our lives. We were left looking for satisfaction in things that could not fulfill and didn't know what our identity was. Then God our Father, rescued us from our sin, rescued us from death, and rescued us from destruction on this earth now and after. Not only did he rescue us but then he made us his children! Ephesians 1:11 says,"In Him we have obtained an inheritance having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will." God our Father, found us, rescued us, and gave us his inheritance. We are no longer spiritual orphans but are a son and daughter of a Holy King.
It is with great priviledge and humility to announce that we will be able to reflect this relationship God has given us for 2 orphans from Ethiopia. Tony and I are adopting!!!!!! It brings tears to my eyes to think of having the honor of being a mother to one who has none. All of the experiences we took for granted as children we will be able to give. For those who have lost their family, identity, purpose, and hope we will be able to bring them into our family to become our son/daughter and make them a Wells!
