Included and Including

Adoption is the act of taking something on as your own.

Chosen          

 favored, picked, selected, fancied, named, called, preferred, taken, embraced, wished, kept,          collected, willed,  accepted, wanted, desired, singled out, included, longed for

 

Including others in our lives is a choice that enriches our lives as well as theirs. People know Ron and me as parents to our adopted children that God so richly blessed us with. What is a true blessing is that the adopting spirit in both of us goes far beyond our kids and family. We have both been fortunate to lead youth through Young Life, Scouts, coaching, teaching and just being a part of our community. Some of those kiddos passed through our lives and some have become an important part of our family. 

In this season of retirement and empty nesting we have been gifted with people who have called our home their home for a season. Genea, a visiting nurse, Hector, a grad student, and currently Mayank, a post doc. Each of these have added to our lives with just getting to include them in our day to day. We remain in touch even when we are not having coffee and seeing each other everyday. Families are chosen is so many ways. 

Being included is what each of us wants. Including others is a choice. Not everyone is comfortable with opening their home to strangers but each of us can give an encouragement in a checkout line to a struggling mom or an older person who is frantically looking for their debit card. Just a smile, a word, a helping hand is choosing to include yourself in the lives of others. The reward is as great for you as it is for them. The great thing about our human hearts is there is always room to love one more. Included not excluded~what a way to live life.

In Him,

Joyful

3-15-22