Almost Home

Russian law requires three visits to the country before we can bring our new children home. The first visit will be to meet Ana and Tim. After that meeting if everyone - Val and I, the children, the adoption agency, the Russian officials - are in agreement, we will make a second trip to finalize the adoption in court.

Lord willing, the gavel will come down and the Judge will say, "We hereby grant you permission to adopt the two children Tatyana Deutsch and Artem Deutsch." 

And then we will wait. 

Because, you see, even though they will be our children in the eyes of the law and in our hearts, we will have to wait thirty days before we can bring them home. Within those thirty days, yet more papers will be filed, and any long-missing family members who want to contest the adoption will have their chance to come forward. 

At the end of our day in court, we will celebrate. We will cry. We will share a family meal. And at the end of that life shifting day, Tim and Ana will go back to sleep in the orphanage. Just like they have every other day of their lives. This time, though, it will be different. Because they will know that they have a home and brothers and sisters in another land. 

Just a little wait, and they will be home. 

Isn't that the reality of the Christian life? Every believer is an adopted child in God's family. We have a home and brothers and sisters in another land.

But still we have to wait.

Hope sustains us, though. Because we know in our hearts that our Heavenly Father has already made the arrangements. Our adoption has been finalized.

Just as I long to bring two more children into my home. Just as my sons and daughters anticipate welcoming their new brother and sister, my Heavenly Father longs to see me. My elder brother Jesus anticipates welcoming me into his home.

Saints who've gone before me will stand with open arms when I cross that final threshold. But for now, I wait.