The Stallings Family: Saying YES!

What if we said “NO” 

Breisch and I often look at each other after we have had a sweet moment with our children and say, “What if we answered God’s call to adopt with the word “no” instead of “yes.”

Three years ago, Breisch and I started praying about adoption. This was not the first time we had talked about adoption. In fact, the word “adoption” is mentioned a lot in our family. It was first mentioned before we had Gage, our first child, but we really started to pray about what that word meant to us three years ago. 

We asked ourselves when God commands us to care for the orphans and widows what does that look like in our family? Does that mean we aid in a fundraiser for someone adopting? Does it mean we invest more toward widow and adoption organizations? Or does it mean that we adopt one of God’s children as He adopted us. 

Well for our family, it meant answering “yes” to one amazing call that I cannot imagine saying “no” to. The emotions and the blessings I will never be able to put into words, but I am honored to be able to share our experience in discovering our “yes.” 

For three months, Breisch and I committed to pray for the word “adoption.” We did not really know what we were praying for, but the word adoption just kept creeping up in our conversation, community, and thoughts. 

After three months had passed, I was definitely feeling my heart stirring! Since we had only been praying about it separately and not discussing it together yet, I was unsure what Breisch's feelings were about it, but when I asked him, he said so calmly, “start doing the paper work.” This was not some big moment. It was more like a matter of fact statement. Get the stuff together and lets see how serious she is kind of comment, but I took it and ran. He had every right to feel like that after all I am a great ideas person, but completing something with this much detail is not likely for me. 

As we started the process, I often asked Breisch how he was feeling about it. I told him that we could stop the process at anytime. Let me make something very clear. I was never going against him on the issue, but he could never find a reason to say no either. At this point neither of us can honestly say that a “YES” was not confidently heard by God, but neither was a “NO.” Within days of us starting the process “yes” after “yes” after “yes,” rained down from God. 

As we look back on it, we realize what it truly meant to walk in faith. We knew what the Bible said about adoption, but our worldly thoughts clouded our minds until we committed to His word. We had to commit to what God commands and not depend on our worldly hearts to lead us. 

Through this process there were so many times the enemy created doubt and fear. I think that is why the phrase “what if we said NO” affect Breisch and I so much. 

Every time I say it out loud it takes my breath away because saying no meant Daniel would not have a name. When we received the birth certificate from the hospital the first name read “Baby and the last name read “Boy.” Talk about making your stomach hurt. That alone breaks me. 

Saying no meant that I would never get to see Daniel’s smiles.

Saying no meant that my children’s testimonies would not have Daniel’s influence in them. 

Saying no meant that our family would not even get to experience all the countless blessings from the last two years. 

Saying no meant that our family would not see God through Daniel because I believe there is no better way to witness God than through one of His children. 

Saying no means that our family would miss out on all the blessings that God has in store for us throughout Daniel’s life. 

There were so many times in the process where we could have said “No,” but because we faithfully started the process God protected our “Yes” through the strength He gave us everyday. He walked us through all the fear and doubt, and I sit here today so excited that I can share all the not so easy parts of the journey with you. 

Prayed to the Lord my God and Confessed and said, “Alas, O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant and Loving kindness for those who love Him and Keep His commandments" 

(Daniel 9:4)