Adoption

John Hancock is a familiar name to many. Sure, there are a few scandals that shadow his legacy, but he was also a Founding Father. He helped lead the American Revolution and risked his life by signing the Declaration of Independence.

Steve Jobs was an inventor, investor, co-founder of Apple, and more. He’s considered a pioneer in the 1970s and ’80s computer revolution. He was also responsible for launching the iPod and iPhone (important stuff!).

Simone Biles is the greatest gymnast of all time (or the GOAT). She’s won seven Olympic medals, thirty World Championship medals, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She plans on competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics. I hope to see her earn a few more gold medals.

John Hancock, Steve Jobs, and Simone Biles have a few things in common. They are all famous, American, and each of them was the GOAT of their time, but there’s another commonality that’s sometimes overlooked. They were all adopted.

For reasons known and unknown, their biological parents couldn’t keep them, but others saw their worth. Their foster parents made the necessary sacrifices to adopt and raise them. Their selfless actions paid great dividends for the children, and their character mirrors the heart of God.

God knows our worth. He sent His only Son to die on the cross so we could have a choice for salvation. When we accept and believe His sacrifice, we become children of God through adoption (Ephesians 1:3–5). You have worth. You are important. Don’t ever forget it.

In LOTK, some of Meldon’s descendants represent Christians. I chose for Andrius and Caedmon to be adopted to further signify the Christian relationship through Christ. Although we are a part of the family of God, relationships can still be tested and even broken.

“In love, He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.”

Ephesians 1:5