Father, I know you as Father because you made yourself known to me in your Son. By sending your Son, you adopted me as a son, and now your Spirit within me calls you Father.

I’ve disbelieved you, disliked you, and dissuaded others from you. I’ve thought of you as distant, cold, unjust, and untrue. And yet, when we were enemies, you made peace. When I ran away, you came and found me. When I was lost and alone, you brought me into your family as a son.

Jesus is teaching me what this means to pray Our Father and to believe you love me as a son. Help me Father, I’m a slow learner.

When you led our family to pursue adoption, you were simply leading us to be more like you.

Jesus says, wash one another’s feet (Jn 13:14). And we pull four sopping, clean-toed kids from their bath.

Jesus says, when you give a dinner, invite those who can’t repay you (Lk 14:12-14). And we watch un-reciprocating, peanut-butter-smeared mouths happily munch.

Jesus says, whoever gives one of these little ones a cup of cold water, will not lose his reward (Mt 10:42). And we pass sippy cups around.

Jesus says, let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God (Mk 10:15). And we gather four little hearts around your Bible.

I pray for these sons. I’m a fragile, earthly dad trying to point them to a Perfect One. Forgive my impatience. Forgive my quick temper, my selfishness, my pride. Forgive me for not asking for forgiveness from them.

Our Father, your kingdom come, your will be done in me and in them as it is in heaven.

You’ve made these boys my sons, now I pray you make them your sons.

In Jesus’ saving name, Amen.

In April 2015, the writer of this prayer and family of four welcomed two new members, brothers aged 3 and 2, through adoption.