But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. – Galatians 4:4-5

I was born with the name Donovan Donnelly. Following my parents’ divorce, my mother did her best to raise me as a single parent in the 1960’s. I recall with fondness Mom’s bedtime stories, the rich aroma of my grandfather (he liked cigars), my day care center friends, and long, endless summers… I think I was a happy child. But then things got serious: I started the first grade. As you can see from the image of my “Social Characteristics” (X = Needs to Improve), I was easily distracted, impulsive, and quite talkative!

I was surrounded by supportive influences. My mother and my grandfather were gentle, nurturing fixtures in my little world. Living in a mobile home park on the outskirts of San Antonio, Texas, I spent most of my time outside, running around with neighborhood buddies and creating a vast array of childhood “adventures.” But deep down, I felt a little “different” from the other kids. I wasn’t different. I just felt different.

Then my mother began dating a young Air Force pilot. I liked him. He was like a Dad to me. Then they married… and my step-father became my father: he adopted me as his son. My young mind easily embraced all of the changes. My new name was Donovan Pucik. I really liked that. I didn’t feel “different” anymore. I had a Dad and a Mom now.

When he signed the adoption papers:

• he gave me his name;
• he assumed complete responsibility for me as his son;
• he gave me all of the rights and privileges of a son;
• he became my father; and
• he chose to do it — he chose me.

The baby born in Bethlehem was the Son of God. But God seeks others to become part of His family. He seeks you and me. When a person trusts in the Person and work of the Son (click here to learn what that means), God the Father adopts him or her into His family.

What does it mean to be “adopted” by God? For me it means…

• I was not always a son, but now I will always be His son. “But when the fullness of the time had come”
• I have a new Father or authority in my life. I am not alone in this world. “God sent forth His Son”
• I have a Father who paid a great price to make me His son. The life of Jesus is the “value” He placed on my life. “to redeem those who were under the law”
• I have a Father who wants to be intimate with me. “And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts”

For this believer in Christ, my true relationship with God is that of an adopted child… He chose me through the Christmas Revolution!

Editor’s Note: If you would like to obtain a single PDF file containing all 25 blogs in the “Counting Down to the Christmas Revolution” series, click here to download. May God richly bless your efforts to explore the revolutionary truth underlying the Christmas celebrations around the world.