As Christians we are called to love sacrificially and without limit. Listen to part 3 of a radical testimony in which Jen and her husband Eric love without a guarantee of a return, obediently following God's prompting. The Sovereignty of God is undeniable in the conclusion of this powerful story.

Jen also shares practical ways to discuss adoption with our children, increase sensitivity in those around us, as well as how to surrender the emotions and difficulties we face when we bring children into our home.

Book Recommendation:

Help Her Be Brave: Discover Your Place in the Pro-Life Movement by Amy Ford

Scriptures Referenced:

James 1:27

Hebrews 13:2

They're the joyful agains our children shout on the swings, the

2

exhausting agains of cooking and laundry,

and the difficult agains of discipline.

3

So much of what we do

as mothers is on repeat.

4

So what if we woke up with clarity,

knowing which agains we were called

5

to, and went to bed believing we

are faithful in what matters most?

6

We believe God's word is

the key to untangle from the

7

confusion and overwhelm we feel.

8

Let's look up together to embrace a

motherhood full of freedom and joy.

9

Hi there.

10

Patient listeners.

11

We're grateful.

12

You came back for part three

of an incredible testimony.

13

This is the again podcast brought

to you from interested ministries

14

and I'm your host, Stephanie Hickox.

15

This episode I'm once again,

joined by Jen Frackman, as she

16

shares a truly remarkable story.

17

In which God grew her heart.

18

Not just to have another

child in her home.

19

But grew her heart to serve

mothers in difficult situations.

20

If you haven't had a chance to

listen to part one and part two.

21

Go listen to those.

22

And then come back to this episode.

23

And if you've been along for the ride,

I know you're on the edge of your seat,

24

waiting for what's going to happen.

25

Not only will Jen share in this

episode how the story continued.

26

She also shares the truly practical,

insightful wisdom about how to

27

speak about adoption in her home.

28

That the Lord has given

her through the years.

29

And also how to continue to serve

children and mothers in need.

30

She gives very practical advice.

31

So that we can all honor scripture

and be the hands and feet of Christ.

32

Let's pick up in this incredible story.

33

Jen and Eric are in the hospital

waiting to hear if this will be the

34

tile that they bring into their home.

35

Jen: So, Eric and I laid on the hospital

bed together and I remember taking a

36

selfie and being like, well, is she ours?

37

I don't know.

38

And we smiled and took a picture.

39

And soon enough, the agency worker

came and said, she signed, she's yours.

40

And I fell to the ground.

41

I just was like, Oh my gosh, she did.

42

Where's the baby?

43

So, we went over and She said

she signed and she's saying some

44

goodbyes, she just wants a minute

or two and I was like, absolutely.

45

She may have as long as she wants, but the

second she's done, I want to go see her.

46

And so she didn't take too long

and we went in and, at that point.

47

I had such relief and such joy and

she had relief and peace, but not joy.

48

And so how do you contain yourself?

49

So I remember just walking in being

like, God, you've got to fill me.

50

Give me the appropriate words,

give me the appropriate everything.

51

I just need you to do this.

52

And we walked in and I gave her a

hug and I just said, I love you.

53

And she said, I love you too.

54

And I said I just want you to know

that I wrote you a letter, I think

55

it was four days prior before I

knew what she was going to do.

56

And I had committed to

being her friend for life.

57

I was like, no matter what happens.

58

I want to be your friend for life.

59

I just adore you and I respect you

because watching you go through this

60

alone, is just absolutely amazing to me.

61

And so I gave her this card or this note

that I had, and I had a necklace made

62

for her that said, loved, which is that

theme song, the title of this theme song.

63

And so I said, here's, here's a little

gift for you that I have that for

64

this moment, I didn't know what it was

going to look like, but I just wanted

65

you to know that you are so loved.

66

And so here's this.

67

And she opened that.

68

And then I just remember

her saying, please tell her.

69

That I didn't want to do this, but

I felt it was the best for her.

70

And I needed to do this.

71

And I was like, I'm not going to tell her.

72

I want you to tell her that

because you can know her, you, I'm

73

not going to keep her from you.

74

And I said, you tell her that.

75

And she just started

crying and said, thank you.

76

And, but I said, I promise you

that I will speak so highly of you

77

anytime we talk about you and that

I will honor your role in her life.

78

I said, you loved her first.

79

And you loved her well enough to

bring her into this world and to see

80

her through finding a family that

was going to absolutely love her.

81

And I was

82

Steph: It's an incredible sacrifice.

83

Jen: It is an absolute sacrifice.

84

Absolute.

85

So we hugged, she gave lots of

kisses to babe and asked me what

86

we were going to name the baby.

87

And I had said, well, I wanted

to honor your middle name.

88

Being Kay and my middle name

being Leigh and so we named her

89

Kayleigh and she's I love that and

I said, but wait, there's more.

90

It's so cool because her middle name was

gonna be Joy because Olivia's was Joy.

91

And I, that's just a thing

in my family growing up.

92

A lot of the girls have the middle name

joy, even though I don't, but a lot of

93

Steph: you, but you

have the joy, for sure.

94

Jen: And so, her middle

name was going to be joy.

95

And I looked up what Kaylee

means and it means pure joy.

96

And I was like, she is pure joy to us.

97

Absolute pure joy.

98

And I am just so thankful

that the Lord has done this.

99

And he orchestrated this

in such a Joyful way.

100

She loved it.

101

Loved the name, loved all of it.

102

And, and then the oddest thing in

Indiana, when you are the the person

103

who, the, when you're the adoptive

mom, you are the one that rides in the

104

wheelchair with the baby on your lap.

105

And so here they put me in the wheelchair

with the baby in the car seat on my

106

lap and wheeled me out and have the

birth mom who just gave birth walking.

107

And I was like, No.

108

And so we, she and I laughed about it

cause I was like, this is so weird.

109

Are you sure?

110

And she's no, it's fine.

111

I'm fine.

112

I'll walk.

113

And I'm like, oh my goodness.

114

So we hugged and said our goodbyes,

but I said, this is not goodbye.

115

This is see you again soon.

116

We are in this and like it or

not, we're in this for life.

117

We're together.

118

Steph: Given her circumstances and being

so alone I'm sure there was so much doubt.

119

Even though you had loved her so purely,

her experience probably would have

120

told her once you get what you want.

121

You'll be gone.

122

And so regardless of how beautifully

you lived out different reality,

123

I'm sure that that was really hard

for her to believe at the moment.

124

Jen: And on the flip side, I think

that's what my friends had felt for us.

125

She's getting what she wants now by

having a friendship from you, and

126

then she'll choose either someone

else, or she'll choose to keep

127

the baby, and then we'll be gone.

128

And, and so both sides,

ironically, had a sense of doubt.

129

And we had to trust each other.

130

And it was weird.

131

It was hard, but yet there was a peace

there that only the Lord could bring.

132

And.

133

I think that even the hospital

staff didn't know how to handle us.

134

There were some nurses that were

amazing and there were other nurses

135

that were like, not so amazing.

136

And so I remember thinking, we need to,

we need to give some training here to

137

some of the hospitals as to how to handle

birth mom and adoptive moms, because like

138

they had never experienced that before.

139

And, and I understand like there's a

learning curve with all of it, but we

140

left and we text and for the first.

141

I would say for the first two years,

we were very consistent in texting

142

and she started to come to church.

143

I was like, anytime you want to see

babe, you may come and join us at church.

144

We'll go out to lunch afterward.

145

And so she started to come to church

with us every week and started to

146

come to a thing called hope groups

at our church for women who have gone

147

through hard times and getting counsel.

148

And she asked if I wanted to go with and.

149

We did.

150

And we sat at the table and I

remember the people being like, so

151

how do you guys know each other?

152

And I just look at her.

153

I was like, you want to tell her, do you

want, and she goes, she adopted my baby.

154

And people are like, Oh, they

didn't know what to do with that.

155

But it was just so, so beautiful.

156

We have such a special thing.

157

It's so God, it's so beautiful.

158

It was just so amazing.

159

Now, fast forward, I think it

might've been yesterday I was

160

texting her Hey, I need an update.

161

As we've gotten older and life

is getting busier with older

162

kids and things are going on.

163

I'm not texting as often, but she knows

that any moment she could text me and

164

ask me any question and I am texting

her as often I'm sending her pictures.

165

Most often a couple of weeks

will go by and I'll be like, Hi.

166

I don't think I've sent her any

pictures lately, so I'll just quick

167

send her some and be like, how are you?

168

So, just a sweet, sweet relationship

and I'm just so grateful.

169

Steph: It Is definitely Beauty from Ashes.

170

It's an incredible story

both for her and for you.

171

Could you please share how the

Lord has led you in talking

172

to Kaylee about all of this?

173

So much happened before she

was even here and, how do you

174

speak about her birth mother?

175

How do you make her feel so chosen by

this and battle some of the lies that

176

a child might feel in this situation?

177

Jen: Yeah, that's great.

178

So we talked often, we do talk

often in our home about adaption.

179

We talk about how the Lord adapted

us and that God's heart is adaption.

180

And we use the word adaption as often

as we can in such positive Oh, I

181

would love to adopt this new habit.

182

I would love to take this whatever it is,

we use adoption in positive terms often.

183

And we talk about how the Lord

is good and he chose us even.

184

Even before we were born,

he knew who were his.

185

And so, we know that God does all things

well, and he does all things good.

186

And so God has a perfect

plan for everyone.

187

There is no B plan.

188

And we talk about how

God wrote her story and.

189

He wrote it beautifully and

perfectly and that nothing was

190

left out and nothing was wrong.

191

And we celebrate her.

192

story often.

193

I remember when she was an infant, I took

her to our pediatrician and she whispered

194

to me, which I found peculiar because she

was a newborn, but she whispered and said,

195

are you going to tell her she's adopted?

196

And I was like, yeah, I did.

197

Never occurred to me that

I might not tell her.

198

And I said, there is

nothing to be ashamed of.

199

This is a beautiful thing.

200

This is a God story like none other.

201

Of course, I'm going to

celebrate this story for her.

202

And so we decided that God had

written the best story for her.

203

So we just took what God did

and we put it into a book.

204

And we made a little book and we

call it God's Gift of Pure Joy.

205

And we told the story in children's

terms as to how the, a mommy and

206

a daddy sent out postcards and we

found a tummy mommy that wanted

207

to place their baby in adoption.

208

And we tell the whole story.

209

And we had it printed and illustrated

and we read it to her at night.

210

We read it to her at different

times on her birthday or whenever

211

there's questions about things.

212

And even as a six month old or a nine

month old, we would read that to her and.

213

As a little one, we

would say, where's mommy?

214

And she would point at it.

215

Where's dada?

216

And she'd point at who it is.

217

And where's, where's baby Kaylee?

218

And she would point at all the

people and where's tummy mommy?

219

And she would point at her

and it is just so sweet.

220

And she will call her either miss and then

her name, or she'll say my tummy mommy.

221

We talk to her often about that.

222

And it's really sweet because anytime

in church, when someone will say

223

something about the verses that talk

about adoption, or there's a story

224

of adoption, she will smile and be

like, I'm like, yeah, you're right.

225

So sweet.

226

So there's a funny story because

we, in our community, I don't

227

know if you've heard this story,

but I just love it so much.

228

We were taking one of our dear

friends home and the son was in the

229

car and There's this song called I'm

Adapted that we love to play and,

230

and to listen to and Kaylee loves it.

231

And it's a really happy I'm

adapted, like really cheerful song.

232

And so we were playing this song and she

said something like, yeah, I'm adapted.

233

And the kid was like,

Oh yeah, that's funny.

234

Okay.

235

And she looked at me, she goes, no.

236

I really am.

237

I'm adopted.

238

And he was like, no, you're not.

239

He's you look just like your mom.

240

You're not adopted.

241

yes, I am.

242

Well, at this time, the

whole car is laughing.

243

So of course he thinks we're all joking

because we're all laughing so hard.

244

And then he turns to Josiah

and he's are you adopted?

245

He's no, you're not adopted.

246

He's wait, who else is it?

247

You're lying.

248

And I was like, no, really,

I'm telling you, she's adopted.

249

It was so cute.

250

And she was like, I am.

251

So it was really sweet.

252

And it's funny when we're in the grocery

store and someone will say things like

253

Oh my goodness, she has your smile.

254

And I just laugh and I'm

like, yeah, she does.

255

And she'll look at me

and she'd be like, yep.

256

And when we just talk about how

God places you perfectly and

257

he knows where to place you.

258

And so he knew you were going

to look somewhat like us.

259

And, and there, those are

sweet things that I love.

260

I love that.

261

Steph: She just fits so

beautifully with your family.

262

Jen: does.

263

She does.

264

It's so sweet.

265

Steph: I've not thought to even use,

adopting a new habit and how that

266

word could have have such a positive

connotation in so many situations.

267

That is really wise.

268

I love that.

269

Jen: There is one thing that

we try really hard to do.

270

And sometimes when you're talking

with people, maybe at the grocery

271

store or different things, or

even just friends will say Oh,

272

have you spoken to her mom lately?

273

And I will say, I'm her mom.

274

But I have spoken with her birth mom.

275

Yes.

276

And she's doing this.

277

And so I, especially around

her, will always recorrect the

278

person and say, I'm her mom.

279

And sometimes other kids will say

things like, well, are you her real mom?

280

Or, well, no, I mean her real mom.

281

No, I am her real mom.

282

I am her mom.

283

And her birth mom is her birth mom.

284

And so we with family or with

friends, anybody, anytime someone

285

says something about that.

286

We correct them and say, Nope,

we're her mom, we're her family.

287

And you may, and, and, and that's not to

take away anything from her birth mom.

288

Absolutely not.

289

But.

290

We are legally her parents,

so this is for life.

291

We are her parents, so We just try to

give education to other people around

292

as well and tell them, you know I know

you don't mean harm in saying this

293

but terms matter and titles matter

And so just like you don't call, you

294

know Your husband, your fiancé, once

you're married, he's your husband.

295

You don't say fiancé anymore.

296

So, we give title where titles are

due and we respect those names I

297

always say to my kids, they'll joke

around and say my name, like Jen.

298

And I'll be like, no, no, no, no.

299

You call me mom.

300

There are four people on this

planet that get to call me mom.

301

So you will never call

me by my first name.

302

Like you, I am mother to you

and that is, I had to work

303

hard to get some of those, that

304

Steph: Yeah.

305

Right?

306

Jen: it's very sweet.

307

Steph: That's so sweet

for her to hear, too.

308

That I'm possessive of you.

309

I'm, protective of you.

310

And I will claim you.

311

Yeah.

312

Jen: Yes.

313

Yes.

314

And we do, we say that often.

315

And I'll say it to even my biological

kids that if ever I could line up all

316

the kids in the world, I would search the

whole world until I found this specific

317

face because this is the face I love.

318

This is the one I love.

319

And, and we say that to

everybody and her included.

320

And often I will say to her, I'm

so glad that God gave us you.

321

We are so blessed that we get

to be your parents and that our

322

family gets to be blessed by you.

323

And then she'll smile and be like,

yeah, yeah, you are pretty lucky.

324

She's a spicy one.

325

So.

326

Steph: She's just so precious

and then you realize, oh, there's

327

some fun spunk under there.

328

Jen: Oh yes, there's a lot of spunk.

329

Though she be but little,

she is very fierce.

330

Yes,

331

Steph: a wolf game with her or something.

332

I know she loves to be an animal.

333

And he went to claw her or something

and I said, Oh, don't do that to her.

334

And she looked at me

and she said, I like it.

335

I was like, well, I don't know if

your parents are going to like it

336

if you come home with scratches

all over you, so Please stop!

337

Jen: She's just a silly

girl and I just love it.

338

I love it so much.

339

There is a book that I wanted to

recommend as we talk about adoption.

340

I.

341

Especially it's, it's hard because

when we, when we talk with a group of

342

believers, I feel very passionate and

heavy hearted, I would say, because.

343

Believers are the ones that are

supposed to be the adoptive ones.

344

Like we, we know God's heart is

after adoption and we are called to

345

look after the widow and the orphan.

346

And so this should be like every believer

should be having a heart for adoption.

347

And that doesn't mean that every believer

has to adopt, but I would say more

348

believers should be adopting than what

are, but if you don't feel like you're at

349

the place where you could adapt, there is

definitely things that you can be doing.

350

And I would highly recommend this book

called Help Her Be Brave by Amy Ford.

351

And it says, discover your

place in the pro life movement.

352

And I just really feel convicted

that yes, I am all for.

353

Voting rights and getting as

many things as we can changed

354

for the pro life movement.

355

Absolutely.

356

If anything else, drop the

picket sign and go pick up a kid.

357

Go love a mom, go, go live out the body

of Christ and the way that he wants you

358

to love and care for that birth mom.

359

That's choosing life and that birth

mom that chose life and help her with

360

that kid that she did have because she

didn't want to choose an abortion and

361

now she is struggling and she needs help.

362

And so if we as believers are going to

demand and, and require and Exhort these

363

women to choose life and absolutely we

should, we should, the, the unborn matter.

364

Absolutely.

365

The sanctity of human life, but

it's not just the life of the

366

little baby that matters, but

that birth mom matters as well.

367

And so we all as believers

have to, have to, have to have

368

some type of input and in.

369

involvement in someone who is having a

hard pregnancy and how can we help them?

370

And this book gives A million

different ways that you can be

371

involved in a woman who is in need

or a child's life and help them walk

372

through so that they may not have to

choose an abortion for their child.

373

So it's, it's a great book.

374

Amen.

375

Preach.

376

Those are some powerful, powerful words.

377

It's definitely not a far

off command to obey and it's

378

not just a legislative issue.

379

It's a love issue.

380

I'm excited to look into that

book and find some creative ways.

381

To get involved.

382

I think sometimes.

383

It seems like if you can't do the

huge thing of bringing a child

384

into your home, what can you do?

385

But you're right.

386

There are definitely opportunities.

387

What a great resource to recommend.

388

Thank you.

389

Jen: It is.

390

It is.

391

God's heart is so for adoption and

for the widows and the orphans.

392

Other than the Lord adapting us

and us into his royal kingdom?

393

The world is not going to do that.

394

If you ever research it,

395

And very few have ever adopted.

396

And it's just so sad because

the example from the world

397

is it's not going to happen.

398

It has to happen from believers

who see God's call and God's

399

heart behind this, that, James 1.

400

20 says that God in his holy habitat is

to seek after widows and orphans and, and.

401

I include in that, and I believe the

heart of the Lord includes in that, the

402

orphan is someone who is fatherless.

403

As well as mother and fatherless,

that we have a lot of kids out there

404

who just don't have parents that

know how to parent well and we're not

405

parented, they've gone through the

system, they've had trauma, all of that.

406

Anytime that we can step out and help a

woman in need to raise those children.

407

Is God in His Holy Habitat and

it's amazing any time that we've

408

taken in foster kids and or

hosted a little baby in His name.

409

Though it's hard, and it's hard to

say goodbye, and it's demanding, and

410

it's always inconvenient, there is a

sweetness about it as though, I liken

411

it to that verse that says that we

may be entertaining angels unaware.

412

And there is just something about

the Holy Spirit that fills this home.

413

When we have a foster baby in

it, there is a sweetness to that

414

time that is unlike any other.

415

And it's just a special Amazing thing

to experience God in his holy habitat.

416

So I would just encourage any woman

that or family that is out there

417

that feels like they can't do this.

418

They can't, they don't really know how

to enter in, get this book, read it.

419

There are a million different

ways that you can enter in

420

and some really cool ones too.

421

She's a really creative lady and has

started a really cool organization and

422

gives lots of cool, creative ideas.

423

That's fantastic.

424

I've heard a couple of my

friends doing foster care.

425

That have told me, this is one of the few

ways that your whole family can serve.

426

It's a missional opportunity

for your children to be involved

427

in a way that they can't yet.

428

Through so many other

serving opportunities.

429

one specifically they were doing

safe families as well, and they've

430

been really blessed financially.

431

And they told me it was so

eye-opening for their children to see.

432

And it really enlightened their children.

433

And help them become more grateful for

their blessings through watching some

434

of these really difficult situations.

435

But I think it's such an incredible

way to teach our children to

436

serve and to love others and an

opportunity for the whole family.

437

Jen: It is.

438

There's no other ministry where they

have to share their home, their toy,

439

their parents, their siblings, everything

that's precious to a child, they have

440

to share and they have to give up.

441

And it shows them a little bit

the hardness of this world, but in

442

a human form and a loving gentle

way where they can see this.

443

This is hard and this is hard for this

young baby or this, this little toddler.

444

We can love this one.

445

And guess what?

446

We can pray.

447

Even after this one leaves our home, we

can pray for him the rest of our lives.

448

And we get to love him for

this little time in life.

449

And so we're just going to pray

over him as much as we can and

450

bless him and bless his mom.

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And we're going to see

what God does with this.

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And we're going to see someday

when we get to heaven, we might.

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Be able to see that this prayer

was answered because of our

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prayers or whatever it is.

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And we get to have a little

bit of our time on earth.

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We get to see how God is going

to use that in someone's life.

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And it is just, it's so

sweet and so precious to be

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able to be involved in that.

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Steph: How do you handle the emotions

for yourself and for your children, for

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a child that you've fostered that is now

maybe returning to a situation that's

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not ideal, how have you handled that?

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Jen: Yeah.

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That's hard.

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It's hard.

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It's gut wrenching.

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We've had that a number of times.

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I felt like I would, I would say, I feel

like I'm sending this sweet little lamb.

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Into a den of wolves, like it just.

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It is so hard to trust that.

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So we pray a lot and we cast our

burdens unto the Lord and we trust

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the Lord and it's amazing how much

foster care has shown me how little

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control we actually have in life.

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We think we have so much control.

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We think we have, if we have all

our ducks in order and we have

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enough money and we have enough of

whatever that we can control so much.

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And in some ways, maybe, but really

we're not in control and the Lord

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can, is sovereign in all of that.

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He is taking just as much care of

those little foster kids that leave

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this home that I feel like, Oh, apart

from us, he's never going to make it.

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And he says, but you're not trusting me.

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And so it's hard and we cry and we.

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We, we grieve, every single baby who has

left this home, every single child who

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has left this home, our kids cry over and

it's hard and, but we say we're going to

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take our pain to the Lord and he's going

to heal us and he's going to help us.

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And we quote the verse that says we have

everything we need for life and godliness.

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So, God's given us

everything we need for this.

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We can handle this.

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We, he will heal our hearts and he will

help this child and he is sovereign

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and his protection goes well beyond us.

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He does not need us to protect

this child or to grow up this child

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in the way that they should go.

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And so we just got to be a little

bit of this person's story and we

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get so blessed to be able to do that.

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And we're going to trust that the

Lord will continue to do that.

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Complete the work that he started in this

kid's life and that we just get the joy of

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praying for them the rest of their lives.

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And it's a really special thing to,

when you know someone and they've

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been in your home and you've cared

for them, you pray way differently

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than somebody you just walk by on the

road and or on the street and see.

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So when you've invested in someone,

your prayers are different.

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Oh, that's an excellent heart check.

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I think great for every

parenting situation.

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You know, sometimes I think we can

fall into the trap that when our

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children leave our presence, they're

not as safe right now because.

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I'm not with them.

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But we need to trust in the

Lord sovereignty and that it's

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him who watches over them.

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And it's very easy to fall

into that fallacy that.

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That it's us that protects them.

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So that is a great reminder that I.

511

I can see how you would need

to keep that absolutely.

512

At the forefront.

513

As you continue to be

prayerful and faithful.

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over those children.

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Jen: Yeah.

516

We had one who was with us.

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When he was three years old,

he turned three in our home.

518

He was with us for three months and to

this day, he is 18 and he can still tell

519

me a little like jingle that I would

say, I would say, your life is, you're

520

going to go to school, go to college,

get a job, get married, have kids.

521

I was like, in that order.

522

You mess up the order, it doesn't work.

523

You got to do it that order.

524

And I'd say, say it back to me.

525

And he'd say, go to school, go to college.

526

And he is 18 and he still remembers that.

527

And he will call me Mama Jen.

528

And he, well, the last time that we saw

him and he was in our home, he was so, he

529

used to always want to sit on my lap and

say, tell me about when I was with you.

530

Tell me about when I was with you.

531

And I'd read him the book

that I had made for him.

532

And, but then the last time

that he was in our home, he is

533

so huge that I sat on his lap.

534

like, you are a grown man now.

535

And it's just so sweet though, to

be able to know, like he was three

536

and he was here for three months.

537

And the Lord was so faithful to

help him remember these things.

538

And, and I would just.

539

Even if you're holding a baby and

you're rocking a baby, yes, that

540

baby's not going to remember that,

but the heart knows it's being loved.

541

And there's.

542

This is a really cool thing.

543

In the hospital, when I would hold

Kaylee, her heart rate would go

544

from a certain heart rate down to

a lower one when I would hold her.

545

And it did not do that for anybody

else when they would hold her.

546

The different nurses, whatever.

547

But when I held her, Her

heart rate went down.

548

And I, I was like, I love that.

549

Thank you, Lord.

550

Thank you for letting me see that.

551

And so I just think, those

little babies, they know that.

552

And those prayers, those

prayers are outside of time.

553

The Lord, He uses all of that.

554

And so, just holding and

rocking and loving a newborn.

555

That's, that's mighty spiritual

holy ground right there.

556

I just love that.

557

Steph: Yes.

558

And I think we've probably all heard

stories where it went beautifully,

559

adoption, and stories where it Was a

really painful experience and I have

560

several of those in my own family but I

think the unconditional love is still so

561

beautifully displayed when it doesn't go

exactly how we plan, but we still love

562

and sacrifice for another human being.

563

I think that speaks volumes to our.

564

Everyone else in our family, volumes

to the watching world, and it

565

transforms our heart in the process.

566

This isn't about necessarily picking the

cutest face and bringing it into your home

567

and then it being such an easy process.

568

Many times it is a difficult process

of caring for the trauma that they

569

experienced before they came to you

or even Brain damage or disabilities.

570

There's so much that goes with it.

571

But God's heart is still for it.

572

It's, His heart is for every

human life and honoring that.

573

Jen: Absolutely.

574

And, and yes, you're right, because you're

bringing in a whole host of generational

575

sin that's different than your own.

576

And we like to, we're

comfortable with our own.

577

We're used to our own.

578

We know what it looks like.

579

We know how to manipulate it and to

be okay with it sometimes, sadly.

580

But other people's sins,

that's new, that's different.

581

And so it, it's It is, there is,

you're, you're dealing with sinful

582

beings and I just always remind Myself

and anyone who says Oh, I just don't

583

know if I could adopt because you just

don't know what you're going to get.

584

Girlfriend, you don't know what you're

getting when you give birth to that baby.

585

Steph: Absolutely,

586

Jen: know.

587

We are not guaranteed anything in life.

588

And so, we just trust the Lord and,

and we bring all things back to him

589

and know that he uses all things.

590

For His glory and for His good.

591

And so when those moments of doubt

or question or worry come in, you do

592

what you do, you take it to the Lord.

593

You lay it at his feet and you pray

about it and you do the next right

594

thing and you just do whatever you

feel called to do in the next moment.

595

I had one friend who is so sweet,

but Saw me sharing ice cream with

596

one of the foster babies that we had.

597

And, and I didn't even think twice of it.

598

I took a lick of the ice cream cone

and I handed it to the kid and they

599

took a lick and she's Oh my gosh,

I don't know how you're doing that.

600

And that's somebody else's spit.

601

And I was like, eh.

602

When they're in your home,

they feel like your family.

603

I had this baby for months.

604

I'm, I'm, I'm sharing

everything with this kid.

605

Like they become his spit's my spit,

it's like they, they become your own.

606

You love them well.

607

And, and I just feel like it.

608

You just don't, there's no separation.

609

In my mind, there's no separation.

610

If you're in this home and we, and we

are in charge of you and we are your

611

foster parents or we are your adoptive

parents, whatever, we're going to treat

612

you like you're our own and line up.

613

You're getting, you're getting

the same as everybody else.

614

Ah, I love that loving

without barrier or boundary.

615

That's so sweet.

616

it was so, so good to hear

this story in such detail.

617

I know I've heard it before, but

never this thoroughly, and it

618

was such a blessing to me, Jen.

619

So thank you for taking

the time to share it.

620

It's inspiring to see

how relentless you were.

621

And serving without guarantee.

622

I think it's an incredible display

of the gospel Even when you

623

didn't specifically say scripture.

624

Your life was showing it, and it

was such an impactful testimony.

625

Thanks again for listening.

626

If you've been blessed by our podcast,

please head over and leave a review.

627

Or share it with your friends or do both.

628

We really appreciate you

helping us spread the word.

629

We're here to serve you.

630

Steph: We know you're busy, Mama,

so we are truly grateful you joined

631

us for this episode of Again.

632

If you're looking for more information

about building your home on the

633

foundation of Jesus Christ, head to www.

634

EntrustedMinistries.

635

com to learn more about our study for

moms, Entrusted with a Child's Heart.

636

This scripture saturated study

has blessed families around the

637

world, and we want it for you, too.

638

Before you go, I want to pray

this benediction over you

639

from 2 Thessalonians 1, 11 12.

640

We're rooting for you.

641

To this end, we always pray for you,

that our God may make you worthy of His

642

calling, and may fulfill every resolve

for good, and every work of faith by

643

His power, so that the name of our Lord

Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in

644

Him, according to the grace of our God.

645

And the Lord Jesus Christ.

646

Amen.

647

Until we meet again.