Don’t worry, this is not a post about those terrible menaces to our beloved doggy pets! Those are something all pet owners work hard to prevent. The heart worms I am talking about are quite welcome in my life.
I have eight biological children ranging in age from twenty-two to eight. We figured that some day most, if not all, of them would bring home spouses that we would also love and cherish. I didn’t realize that along the way, other children would find their way into our family.
We have not officially adopted any children, but somehow, to date, I have a total of sixteen children! There are eight other children that have wormed their way into my heart and have become my “kids.” They are all amazing young people from all different kinds of backgrounds, but they all have a need for love and a big capacity for love.
When my biological children were still all mostly small, people would say I had my hands full. Now, I realize that at times I may have had my hands full, but my heart wasn’t too full. My heart has been able to expand with each child that has “wormed” its way into it. God has expanded my capacity to love each one.
I am so glad that our Heavenly Father’s heart is the same way. He has the biggest heart of all. He is just waiting to adopt us into his family through what his Son did for us. Just like my house at dinner time, God always has room for one more at his table!
I love what the book of Romans chapter 8 has to say about this, “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.” It goes on to say, “the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.'” We can even have assurance of our adoption into God’s family, “The Spirit himself testifies that we are God’s children.” (These verses are from Romans 8:14-16.)
This is good news for all of us, no matter what our past or current family may be like. We can be a part of God’s family by accepting what Jesus did for us in his crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension!
“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.'” Galatians 4:4-6
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