Adoption, Carousel, Life, Parenting

Everything is Backwards

My husband, Danny, and I have 4 daughters. That’s right! Four girls! Two of those girls were born naturally through our union as husband and wife. The other two came to us from foster care. (I’ll share more of that story at a later date). We did things quite backwards with regards to the status quo. You see, it’s fairly untypical to adopt out of birth order. Our two biological daughters are 4 and 8 years old. Our two adopted children are 10 and 13. We adopted those two children at the prompting of the Holy Spirit, and we knew that no matter what the challenges would be, they were supposed to be our kids.

This is one of many stories in our lives that make me think about how Jesus did things seemingly backwards. His modus operandi was peace. For example, He said if a person asks to borrow something from you, you just give it to them. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer them the other as well.

Matthew 5:38-40 

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.

It’s completely counter-culture. And if you think about the way our culture is going these days, you can see that perhaps doing things backwards or the opposite of what your instincts tell you might just be the better way. That’s not to imply that the “narrow road,” so to speak won’t be full of challenges. Going against your human nature is hard…sometimes it physically hurts. But in the end, we know for sure that it is the better way.

Matthew 7:14:

For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

With regards to our family, it is a constant struggle. One of our two adopted daughters has special needs. The other has boundary issues like you wouldn’t believe. Our home is not the peaceful place it used to be. We are adjusting to a new normal, a normal that Jesus has called us to live. Why? Honestly, sometimes I’m just not sure. But I am confident that there is a light at the end of this tunnel, and I KNOW that at the end of it is the face of Jesus. So we obey and we trust, praying for better days where the sting of knowing that one of your children feels little and has complete apathy towards life, will hurt less. We rest in the hope that because He has called us to the narrow road, He will sustain us and bring us peace and joy and that, perhaps, doing things seemingly backwards is really doing things the way Jesus intended for us.

Matthew 25:21:

His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

3 thoughts on “Everything is Backwards

  1. Love you and your beautiful family! I’m reminded of the old Truth song ‘Living Life Upside Down.’ The economy of the Kingdom is completely different and opposite of the economy of the world.

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