Some must lose it all, for others to gain everything.

In life, some must lose it all for others to gain everything. This has been on my mind for several days now and with today being September 11th, I found it fitting to go ahead and post. 

I'm first reminded of all the many victims of the 9/11 tragedy and their families that are hurting today. But that brings me to all the many soldiers that have fought so hard for our country and given their lives so that we, you & I, can have the freedoms we have today. Think of those in Syria right now, that aren't free and facing such horror in their own home town. It it such a blessing to live where we do, but we must never forget the price at which this freedom has come. 

Freedom is amazing, but someone gave their all.  

Over the past few days, I've been reminded of the loss that my child has experienced. He may not fully understand it all right now, but there has been tremendous loss in his life, that will forever be apart of his story. This was sparked by an article I read by April Swiger, "Praying while you wait." She goes on to talk about how, 

"Adoption is born out of loss and brokenness. Whether the child is a newborn infant, a teenager in foster care, or a toddler from Africa, there is always loss involved.I always get squirmy when I see adoption sentimentalized, giving the appearance of “they all lived happily ever after.” Don’t get me wrong, I love a good adoption story, and I have wept over quite a few “gotcha-day” videos! Adoption is beautiful, Biblical, and emulates the heart of the gospel. However, in order for us to gain children into our family, these children will lose everything and everyone they have ever known."

While deep down in my heart, I know that Eli will be one blessed little boy, I also know he has lost so much in order to gain us, as his family. His biological mother, she has lost her son and may never know the wonderful things he will accomplish in life. 

Adoption is beautiful, but someone lost their child.

Lastly, and most importantly, this brings me to our freedom in Christ and our adoption into his family. "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom. 5:8) While salvation is free to us, it came at a price. Someone had to pay for all the many sins we have & will commit. Christ came not to be served, "but to serve, and to give his life as ransom for many." (Matt. 20:28) So if salvation is free to us because Christ has already paid the price, have you accepted Christ into your heart? Or are still a slave to others, to the world or even to religion? "God sent his son to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children." (Galatians 4:5)  

Salvation is free to YOU because Christ died for YOU.