I have been adopted by a king. And so have you.

I remember when I was in high school, on one of my piano recital days, I was battling nerves by praying and just dwelling on Him. I can still see the church sanctuary in my mind’s eye, with the baby grand piano that I’d soon play for the collection of family and friends gathered there. I can still see the sunlight streaming through the window. I can still feel the creased, worn pages of the music book in my hands. I was maybe fourteen or fifteen…that detail escapes me. 😉 But that day, as I dwelt on all He’s done for me, I realized something pretty cool. That He was the King of kings…and I am His daughter, His heir. I am a princess of the Kingdom of God.

Now, this was before the days of memes and social media. These days, I see beautiful images and catchy phrases that share this idea left and right. But at the time, it was a revelation. And it was one that has always stuck with me.

My God sent His Son–the true heavenly Prince–to this earth to die for me. To die for you. And so to provide a means for us to become joint-heirs with him. How amazing is that?

I loved learning that in the day and age when Jesus walked the earth, adoption was something very serious. Under Roman law, when a child was adopted into a family, they were entitled to the family name, legacy, and inheritance. They could inherit titles. Thrones. Everything a natural child could. This hasn’t been the case throughout all of history–but it was then. Which makes it all the more important that it was that moment of history that hosted the arrival of our Savior. Because when He then offered adoption into His family, it meant something complete. Something profound. Something irreversible. We will inherit the kingdom of God.

A fitting contemplation now that we’re into November ~ Adoption Awareness Month.

For those of you who have read my Shadows Over England series, you know how much I loved crafting a family of adopted-by-each-other orphans as my heroes and heroines. This family understands that it’s love that binds us together, not blood. Love that makes a brother or a sister, a parent or a child.

I love that God gave us such an always-present illustration of what He’s done for us. And as we thank Him over and again for all He’s done for us in that respect, it seems like a great time to contemplate how we in this world do the same. I have some friends who went through the fire to be able to adopt children in need; I have family who has acted as foster parents to countless boys and adopted several of them over the years; and I had the privilege of helping edit a book about a birth mother who chose to give up her child, and who was finally reunited with her many years later. This tender memoir has snippets from the birth mother, the child, the adopted mother, and a few glimpses into other families’ adoptions as well.

This November, let’s make it a point to remember, as we gear our minds toward thankfulness, what our heavenly Father has done for us. And also to dwell on how His children follow His example even today.

Thank you, Father, for making us your own. And thank you for equipping us with hearts to mirror you and bring others into our families as well.