We have been talking a lot about adoption this month at the Chambers house.  As most of you know, Leslie and I adopted our kids at birth. Because Isaac and Molly are just 4 1/2 months apart we have always had to answer questions of passers-by who would inquire, “Oh, are they twins?”  To which we always replied, “We adopted them both at birth, 4 and a 1/2 months apart.”

About 3 years ago, we heard Isaac introduce himself and Molly to another little boy on the playground.  He said, “I’m Isaac.  This is my sister Molly. Both adopted, 4 and a 1/2 months apart.”  It was just part of his story.  His reality.  No big deal. Fast forward to today.  Some of our favorite family movies are those involving adoption.  We didn’t intentionally introduce these movies, they just happened to become ones we love.  Movies like Meet the Robinsons, Annie, Madeline, Matilda and others in which the main characters are at some point orphans. Leslie and I have made reference to this and talked about the striking parallels to adoption in relationship to God adopting us.

Last week we finished watching one of those movies and Isaac said, “Dad, do kids cost money?”  I said, “Well, it costs money to adopt, or to pay a hospital to have a baby there.  And, it costs money to raise kids.”  Molly chimed in, “Dad, where did you buy us?” I responded, “I bought you from some really nice people who wanted us to be your mommy and daddy.”  Isaac’s last word was, “Dad, I am so glad you adopted us.”  Molly’s, “Me, too.”  My heart leapt for joy. I’m sure we will have many more conversations with them and go a lot deeper into areas that might cause them some heartache.  But, for now, at 6 years old, they’ve got some pretty amazing wisdom on the subject and are headed in the right, God-focused, direction.

Since birth, people have remarked how much Isaac looks like me and how much Molly looks like Leslie. In reality, they don’t look like us in the ways that we look like our biological siblings or parents.  And yet, they do favor us.  People don’t walk up and say, “They must be adopted.”  Why?  Because they have grown to be like us.  Our kids talk like we do, respond like Leslie and I respond.  They gesture like we do and move similarly.  It’s more than behavior, too.  My dad was adopted and his family always said that he was more of a Chambers than all of the other Chambers.  I have often thought the same thing about Isaac.  He is so much like me that it’s scary.  (Although, he has a love for sports that I absolutely don’t possess.)  Molly has a heart to serve people that is identical to Leslie’s. [Read more...]