I could never...

I could never adopt a boy.

I could never adopt a child with a serious medical condition.

I could never adopt an older child.

I could never adopt a child with unknowns.

I could never adopt a child with a neurological diagnosis.

I've written this post a million times in my head over the past ten years, as the list of  "I could nevers" has grown, and I'm ashamed to admit that these were all thoughts that, at some point, belonged to me.

I owned them all.

I stand amazed, as I reflect on each one, how God has used every one of our adoptions as a gateway... a gateway to a more open heart. Those were all limitations that I put on myself, and God's plans were obviously so much better than mine. He knew there was so much more in me. We now live with all of these  "I could nevers" in our home, and in our hearts. 

You see, alone--I couldn't. But with Jesus--we could.  

He is the source of our strength. He is the source of our courage to say yes to all of the fears and doubts and "I could nevers" that could have stopped us from embracing the biggest blessings of our lives...all five of them. We simply needed to trust and follow Him. And now--with confidence, an open heart, and over-brimming faith, I can say...

I could adopt a boy.

I could adopt a child with a serious medical condition.

I could adopt an older child.

 I could adopt a child with unknowns.

I could adopt a child with a neurological diagnosis.

Because I have. 

Maybe you could too. 

"But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace."
Galatians 1:15 NLT