November 10, Naomi's Gotcha Day

Here is a poem a sweet friend wrote in regards to our celebration.....
GOTCHA DAY

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. ---Ephesians 1:4-6 (NIV)

Today, my friend Lee-Anne is celebrating a special holiday with her family.
She is celebrating ‘Gotcha Day.’

You see, one year ago today, she and her husband were in Beijing, China, waiting to meet a precious little girl who needed a home. Their sweet Naomi. From the moment they knew she existed, they loved her, though separated at first. They knew soon she would be home with them.

And today was the ‘Gotcha Day.’ They got her for good. This day Naomi fell into their arms for the first time, though she had been in their hearts long before that. But ‘Gotcha Day’ happened. She now belongs to them. And they belong to Naomi. They all share a home, a future, and a love can never be hidden…all because of their special ‘Gotcha Day.’

I couldn’t help but let my heart break with joy for this family, so excited about their special day. More precious than a birthday! More precious than Thanksgiving! This was the day that feelings met actions, and hope became a reality of loving this little girl who needed a home.

I wonder… does God celebrate a ‘Gotcha Day’ for me?

Does He announce to all the angels “Today was the day she came running into My arms for the first time! I wrapped my love around her and gave her My name! I sealed My Spirit within her and claimed her. She has a hope and a future, because today- I GOT HER!”

I am not an adoptive parent, so I can’t imagine what it feels like when you hold that chosen child in your arms for the first time. Yet, I understand that I am an adoptee into the family of God. I was left destitute in a land that was never meant to be my home. The things I was surrounded with were not intended to be my focus or my reality. God had bigger plans for me.

So- He chose me. Jesus came down to walk on the earth in a place that was not His home for a while: just like Lee-Anne and her husband traveled to China when they took Naomi. He went through a long and costly process, endured scrutiny, shame, heartache, and gave everything He had, sacrificing it all.

Sacrificing all so he could ‘gotcha’ me.

And ‘gotcha’ you.

I know the joy that Lee-Anne’s family experienced the day they got all the paperwork finalized, and saw on paper that sweet Naomi was theirs. All the i’s were dotted and the t’s were crossed. And there was no turning back. There was only the future. More importantly, she was right there in the arms of her adoptive parents, feeling true love for the first time in her life. And from that day forward, she would never know a day without their love.

As the Lamb of God writes our names in the Book of life, I can feel His joy too! He knew that the Crosses had been tended to already, and that His blood dotted out our sins. From that day forward, we would NEVER EVER know a day without His love. The debts of our sins had been paid, and all that was left to do was to wrap us up in His arms and cry out-

GOTCHA.