I got the following from a friend about apple trees. It fits in perfectly with the idea of adoption. Think on this:
Last month in our curriculum we had the most wonderful study about fruit
trees and how the best apple trees come from grafts. They told us about
many kinds of grafting and the parts involved. There were a few points I
especially loved however and cut out to save in our child's baby book, right
next to her family tree page. They told of how a graft has to be cut and
placed just so, so that the two outer layers of each, the cambium layers,
grow together, healing the wounds that were created when the cuts were
made.
They went on to say that when the cambium layers do heal and grow
together
properly, both parts then share the same circulatory system. Lastly,
they
told how the fruit that is then produced is of the best quality, taking
the
best characteristics from the trees that were grafted together.
That is how I see our adoption of our child. I see us growing together,
hopefully healing any wounds that took place when she was cut away from
her
birth family. I also know that as that happens, we now share the same
circulatory system, as surely as if she were born of my own blood. And
finally, I believe that having her grafted into our family tree can only
bring out the best fruit with the best characteristics from both of our
original families.
Adoption isn't impossible. I don't care where you are financially. It isn't impossible. The Bible tells us to take care of the world's orphans. We have to ask ourselves -- how are we carrying out this command? It doesn't mean you have to adopt an orphan but maybe you need to think about it. When a person wants to do good in this world, God always makes a way. You just have to believe. Maybe you cannot parent a child. But maybe you can help some orphans get home. Or maybe you can go to a foreign orphanage and do some work. Or maybe you can become a foster parent or reach out to the kids in this country.
I don't know what is right for your family but God does. And He's waiting to tell you what great opportunities He has for you. Ask Him. And then listen and obey.
(These are pictures of Maggie when she first came home. Look how much she changed when comparing it to the top picture.)
(To the left and up are our two adopted children with my husband Shannon. Maggie is smiling next to her birthday pie and Peter is smiling big after playing outside. Maggie came from Bulgaria and Peter came from Russia.)