"This is Unnatural!"

When we signed up to adopt to kids back in July 2009 we knew it would be hard. Most every parent we've talked to since then has knowingly chuckled, sighed, or pitied us when we told them we were adopting 2 little ones at the same time. We're grateful for those informed parent responses because never once did we think this was going to be simple. They were right!

On maybe our second or third day parenting Judah and Addise, Brian was about to claw his eyes out with some reason Judah was bugging him. Totally unedited he announced, "This is unnatural! Normal parents do not get a toddler and infant at the same time." I think we laughed. Maybe we cried. But he's right - this is an unnatural thing that just happened to our quiet, clean, predictable Diaz casa.

I've thought a lot about Brian's honest declaration over the past couple weeks. A lot about our lives these past few years has been unnatural. Infertility is unnatural. Children without parents is not natural. Paying exorbitant amounts of money to have a family is unnatural. Leaving your children halfway across the world for 2 months so more paperwork can be completed - UNNATURAL. Black children belonging to a white momma and brown daddy is unnatural.

There's not much that's natural about what's happened in our family.

It's at this point my theology bursts forth: Jesus adopting sinful children into his forever family is not natural. I wonder if the most unnatural phrase is Scripture is this: the Word became flesh. It was not natural for an all-powerful, holy God chose to enter the world as an orphan [Remember: Joseph essentially adopted Jesus as his son] in order to usher in redemption.

"So the Word became human and made his home among us.
He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness."
John 1:14

I've read John 1 countless times, but Brian's comment has drawn me to this passage again with fresh eyes. It is unnatural that the God who created the Universe made his home in a town where people wondered if anything good can come from there [John 1:46]. It was unnatural for God to come down to us. Wasn't there another way?

Nearly 3 weeks into parenting and a lot is feeling unnatural, but I find myself in good company and grateful for another way to identify with my God who took on flesh to show me his unfailing love and faithfulness.