Continuing with our focus on the fruit of the Spirit, this morning Adoption Consultant Katie F. leads us in a pointed prayer over the adoption community:
“Father, You rarely do things in the timing that we want You to. Your ways are not ours and your time-table is often so different than our own. We can only see a small distance in front of us; You see our lives as a whole. Increase the fruit of patience in our hearts as we trust You are working in our adoption story even when we can’t see it.
Father, You treat us with kindness and call us to do the same to all around us. Grow the fruit of kindness in the hearts of adoptive parents as they interact with their child’s birth family. Show them what it means to be truly considerate and thoughtful. Lead them by Your Spirit to know what words of encouragement might be especially meaningful to share. Let them be characterized by kindness in all of their interactions with their child’s birth family.
Father, You do that which is helpful and beneficial-that is Your heart towards us! Your goodness surrounds our lives even when we can’t see it and it’s been especially tough to see it this year. Grow us to reflect that heart set on doing what’s good and helpful and beneficial for all members of the adoption triad. We need more of the fruit of goodness in our own interactions with our child’s birth family, with our child’s adoptive family, with our child. Thank you for always having a heart of goodness towards us.”
Happy Birthday Jude!