One of the greatest ministries God ever gave us is family. Jesus paid for it in blood so that His family could be redeemed, adopted and loved forever.
Ever since I was 5 years old, I desired an extraordinary family. I would put all my baby dolls in an old wicker bassinet and carry them around the house, pretending I was a mommy of many. When that wasn’t real enough, I did the same with my cats, making them clothing and singing to them as I pushed them around in a baby buggy.
I remember finding out what an orphan was around that age—and what this beautiful thing called adoption is. I knew then I would be a mommy to children who needed a family. I see now that it was God who planted that deep desire in my small being.
Over the years, it would grow and grow. As an adult, I would spend hours praying for the family God was preparing for me. I knew He heard me and all I needed to do would be to trust and wait. And then wait a little more.
I would learn that His greatest miracles, like the miracle of our son, have an exact timing. God is not slow in keeping His promises; He is exact.
God loves building a family more than we do. I think about that gift of family every November. November’s first Sunday is marked by Orphan Sunday, which highlights the need for every family to receive a child that has none.
Matt and I were married on Orphan Sunday. We decided to have a table at our wedding reception in order to share our hearts with our guests to join us in answering this need.
November is also National Adoption Month, a beautiful time to reflect on the testimony of the gift of adoption and what it means to those who have experienced it. In light of these reasons, I would love to share with you our own little family miracle.
On May 12 of this year, our first son in foster care became our eldest son forever. When Braxton legally became Braxton Bradley Brumfield, it became easily one of the greatest days of our lives.
One of our dearest couple friends, Trip and Faith Owens of Threefold Films, decided to commemorate this dream come true for us with this beautiful film and hundreds of pictures—all out of the kindness of their hearts.
They blessed us with this gift because they believe in adoption and family too.
It was another amazing way I’m being shown that all people can be a part of the miracle. Supportive friends and family are just as much a part of this process as the mom, dad and siblings.
While these favorite photos were truly a gift of this long-awaited day, this passage from the Bible has been an even greater one—capturing foundational truths in our journey.
“The Lord is high above all nations, and His glory above the heavens. Who is like the Lord our God, who dwells on high, who looks down on the things that are in heaven and on the earth? He raises up the poor out of the dust and lifts the needy out of the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, even with the princes of His people. He gives the barren woman a dwelling, making her the joyful mother of children. Praise the Lord!” (Ps. 113:4-9). {eoa}
Since 2008, Natalie Brumfield has served as Birmingham chapter leader for Bound4LIFE – a grassroots movement to pray for the ending of abortion and for revival worldwide. She works as children’s director at her local church and volunteers at a local pregnancy care center. Natalie and her husband Matthew live in Birmingham, Alabama; they love being adoptive and foster parents.
Reprinted with permission from Bound4LIFE.
