Emily? This is God Calling....

Have you ever felt like God was calling you to do something?

A calling (according to the dictionary, at least) is:

A strong urge toward a particular way of life or career; a vocation.

I know that religious clergy sometimes have "vocational callings." I have talked to Priests who always just knew that they were called by God to do His work. And while I love my job (a lot), I don't really feel that I was called to do it. I just think that my skills, interests and values intersected at "career counselor" and that was that. There are probably a handful of other jobs that I could do and be equally happy with... but this post isn't about my vocational choice. It's about something else entirely.

Anyone who knows me (but especially peope who have known me for a long time) knows that I have always wanted to be a mom. But there's another piece to it that I have never fully expressed before (except, of course, to my husband).

I have always felt a calling to adopt. 

As much I've felt a calling to be a mother, I've felt compelled (as if God has been gently pushing me) toward children who don't have one. I should probably specify here and say that I am not talking about working with an agency to be paired with a birthmother and adopt a domestic newborn. I'm talking about international adoption or adoption through foster care.

I don't fully know how to explain this force, but I will try.

There's a Chinese Proverb that says:

"An invisible red thread connects those destined to meet, regardless of time, place or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but never breaks."

I think that there is a thread connecting me to my future child(ren). And I literally feel the pull.

In the past, I've been told that I "look at the world through rose-colored glasses" (which was meant as an insult), which might be true. I am an idealist to the Nth degree. But I do not live in the dark. I understand that there are numerous challenges (probably challenges that I can't even begin to imagine) in something like this, but even so, I feel called to do it. And I know that God is behind it.

This isn't something that will happen now (or even anytime soon), but the feeling has been so strong lately that I had to at least write it down.

I am called. And I am blessed to be called. 

Has anyone else ever felt this way (about adoption or anything else)?