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A reflection and prayer to start the day with the Revd Jonathan Thomas, pastor of Cornerstone Church in Abergavenny.

Good morning. Last week I saw the notification blink on my phone, I picked up and had a quick scroll. I stopped, smiled and replied with a ‘high five’ emoji. But that seemed a lame response to such amazing news. A friend of ours had just had the adoption order for their daughter granted. It was official. It was unchangeable. It was life-giving.

I love it when friends adopt and a child gets a forever home. It’s probably one of the things that get me excited the most. It reminds me of when we walked through that same process as a family. Especially the day that my wife, sons and I went to court to hear and see the judge declare us family. We go out every year for pizza to celebrate. It never gets old.

Adoption is both one of the greatest needs and most amazing blessings.

The Bible talks about a ‘doctrine’ of adoption. It’s a spiritual way of describing what the Christian life is all about. At the heart of the Christian message is the amazing news that God wants to welcome us into His heavenly family. That is, that we would have an eternal forever home.

Even if we have earthly families and homes, we can still have a desire for a heavenly family and home. And this is what God offers and desires.

As we start a new day, let’s remember that we have a God in heaven who wants to welcome us into His everlasting arms.

Father God,
We thank you for those who foster and adopt,
And pray that more forever homes would be available.
But we also marvel that you desire to be our Father;
welcome us into your household,
and give us eternal life with you.
Thank you, our Father,
Amen.