By God's Grace

How we praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every blessing in heaven because we belong to Christ.

Long ago, even before he made the world, God chose us to be his very own, through what Christ would do for us; he decided then to make us holy in his eyes, without a single fault - we who stand before him covered with his love. His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by sending Jesus Christ to die for us. And he did this because he wanted to!

Now all praise to God for his wonderful kindness to us and his favor that he has poured out upon us, because we belong to his dearly loved Son. So overflowing is his kindness toward us that he took away all our sins through the blood of his Son, by whom we are saved; and he has showered down upon us the richness of his grace - for how well he understands us and knows what is best for us at all times.

God has told us his secret reason for sending Christ, a plan he decided on in mercy long ago; and this was his purpose: that when the time is ripe he will gather us all together from wherever we are - in heaven or on earth -to be with him in Christ, forever. Ephesians 1: 3-10 (TLB)

Migdiel E. Perex lives in Tennessee. His family embraced adoption several years ago, not as a second-best solution but as God's plan for forming their family. Whether children have come into their home through biological birth or adoption, love is what makes a family.

Their son, now nearing adulthood, came to their family on September 9, 2006. Migdiel became his father the first day he laid eyes on his little face in a picture. It is always such a joy to hear from his son's lips the words, "Dad, I love you," a vivid reminder of God's love for me.

One of his greatest fears as an adult was becoming a father since Migdiel was a fatherless child himself. What kind of example or guidance would he give a child? It turned out that the shared experience of not having a biological father present in their lives created a stronger connection between his son and Migdiel. He can relate to so many of his questions and concerns.

God provided what Migdiel needed, and little by little all his fears melted away through love and patience. Being a father is an ongoing process of learning from new experiences and challenges, and Migdiel is not perfect. Every day he prays for God to help him be the best father he can be for his son so that he will have the tools and the assurance that God is there for him too.

Prayer: O lord, be with children who are waiting for a loving home and with families waiting for a child to call their own, in Jesus' name. Amen.