The Power of Yes!

Last Updated on January 8, 2024

Three and a half years ago we received a phone call and eight days later I sat in a hospital room rocking my new seven pound three ounce son.

We had eight biological children then and had briefly considered adoption when we went through multiple miscarriages.  Up to that point adoption had never crossed our minds.

I see families where it is obvious that some of the children, as Sesame Street would say “are not like the others.”  I have wondered what makes a family adopt out of their race, culture or even adopt children with disabilities.  I have come to the conclusion by my own experience that God asked of them the same question He asked of me…

“Do you have room in your heart to love like you’ve never experienced love before?”

I must admit, I have waited for God to ask me many questions, “Can you be responsible enough to be a good steward of a million dollars?” or “You’ve been so faithful driving that 13-year-old, 15-passenger van, could you drive this Mercedes around for a couple of years?”  The answer would not have taken me but half a second to yell, “YES!”

Adoption is nothing like you would expect.  First, it does cost you something.  MONEY.  Most adoptions are not cheap.  But through our adoption, we have seen God use His people and allowed them to give, sacrificially.  So, money was not an issue.  Second, your family structure will be forever discombobulated.  With our adoption, the addition of our son has proven positively life changing for all of us.  Third, extended family and friends may not understand.

Our adoption has opened the hearts of our family and friends to adoption.

I know everyone is not meant to adopt.  But everyone can help with adoption.

Without the gifts of family, friends, strangers and ministries (ShowHope contributed to our adoption) many children would still need homes.  As an adoptive family, I could not make it without the prayers and encouragement from so many people.  We now see adoption as critical and necessary.  Children need families and I had no idea how much my family needed this beautiful child. We laugh more, sacrifice more and hug a whole lot more.

Three and a half years ago, God changed my heart, opened my eyes and changed my legacy with one phone call. There was an unexpected voice with one question, on the other end of the phone.  My response and the overwhelming response of my husband and children has interrupted our family and made us a part of a new classification called, “forever families.”

It took a three letter word to change our family’s core for our lifetime.  We will never be the same.  A phone call, a question and a response —— “y-e-s.”

{Editor’s Note: We encourage you to learn more about how you can support those who Foster and Adopt by checking out ShowHope.}

Robyn McKelvy

Robyn McKelvy has devoted her life to the care and building up of others. In her home, through the church her husband pastors and through years of speaking at Weekend To Remember Get-Away’s around the country as well as countless women’s events. Robyn is the mom of seventeen children, seven in heaven and nine amazing souls here on earth who have received her full attention from the time they were born or grafted into her family. Robyn’s book SOS – Sick of Sex is in stores now as is her devotional book, Say IT Loud: Becoming your husband’s personal cheerleader. Robyn has been a mom for 24 years and married to Ray for over 25 years.

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