Avizandam In Scots law, this term describes the careful consideration given by the judge before an important decision. Join me each week as we explore various topics from a spiritual perspective and take matters Avise endum Well, here we are again with a continuing story. We've called it the John and Gutney story. We're a little embarrassed about doing this actually, but so many people have asked. And I've told us they found the earlier episodes interesting.
Good night. This is Episode five And we're going to talk quite a bit about our son Christopher. When we moved from Scotland to Dallas, we had no children. Uh we had just expected Children. Both Gutney and I come from large families, but no children.
Cain so When we were in Dallas at Dallas Theological Seminary Good Nay, Uh we began to think of uh adoption. Tell us about that.
Well, um when we came to Dallas in the late summer of eighty one. We had been married for seven years. And I really think that if we had had children before then, it might not have been as easy to move as it was for us 'cause, you know, we just had the two of us to To consider.
So that was. Afterwards I often thought about what would have happened if we had children before we came to the US. But uh In our early months In Dallas, we started talking about maybe it was time. to look into adopting. Yeah, we we contacted several adoption agencies and what were their response, good night.
The responses were usually negative. Because John was attending seminary, they added to that that we had an uncertain future and therefore, they could not work with us.
So we just prayed that God would open a door. If it was his will that we should have a family. And through a couple that were Friends of ours told us about a small agency in Dallas. will call quality of life. And it was actually a very small agency and uh the lady that had started it was very Positive to us, she liked us, and she decided that she would work with us.
So we uh signed up. And she actually With council girls who were pregnant not to help an abortion, but to bring the baby to life and give it up for adoption. And that was her premise, and we really, really like that. Uh one of the Ways the Lord worked. The couple at Dallas that we knew, in fact, he was a professor at Dallas Theological Seminary.
They, like us, had no children and they had begun the adoption. process and worked with quality of life. And uh then she became pregnant.
So They very graciously said to the adoption agency. that they knew us and that could she work with us? Because some of the agencies, I think, didn't want to work with us because we were not American citizens.
So we began that process with quality of life and uh then one day something wonderful happened, goodnight.
Well, yeah, of course we were very excited. And we um We're praying. We did not know who the mother of this baby would be, and so we prayed for her. And we were we finally found out that he was expected to arrive in middle of November. And so we asked her if she could tell us when she was in labor, so we could be in prayer for her.
and as it turned out, she went over time And Christopher was born on Thanksgiving morning in November. twenty fourth of nineteen eighty three. And prior to that, we didn't really know whether we were going to have a little boy or a little girl. When we'd been at some of the meetings with quality of life with other couples, some other couples were very fixated as to what kind of Maybe they wanted male, female, certain ethnic Origin and so on. And we left that totally to the Lord.
We said that we were open. Uh to any child. And we'd leave that to the sovereign purposes of God.
So, as it was, as Goodness just said, on Thanksgiving. of that year. That was American Thanksgiving, obviously. This little baby was born called that we called Christopher John. Monroe.
Do you remember picking him up from uh Hospital. How long was that after he uh was born? Good name. Yeah, so he was born on Thursday morning and we picked him up. on Saturday.
So he was just two days old. We were told to come to Parkland Hospital in downtown. Dallas, and we had never been there before, but one of the things about Parkland is that's where John F. Kennedy died. Anyway, that's where our little boy was born.
And we did not know that it was a boy until that morning when The lady from the agency called us to tell us. that we could come and pick him up. And so she told us to come to the chapel of that hospital. and that's where we were when this little nurse older lady came with a bundle in her arms. and handed it to us and said, This is your baby.
And uh obviously it was very touching and She told us what a good baby he was. She had taken care of him since he was born two days ago, and how happy she was that she could give him to us. Yeah, and then uh Texas at least at that time Uh the fool legal process for adoption couldn't take place until six months after the birth of the uh child the Christopher's mother had given her consent. As had the father, so we didn't anticipate any problem, but sometimes. mothers can change their minds.
But that didn't happen as we continued to pray.
So, six months later, We went to court. In uh Texas. And uh got the formal legal adoption of our son, Christopher. John Munro. In many cases, the birth mother has continuing contact with the child.
That was not the case with us, although we did dutifully send pictures, photos. of Christopher to the adoption agency who then I think passed them on to the to the mother.
So that was a very exciting time. Goodnay, you you became uh an excellent Mother, it's a busy time for you and uh For me, what were some of your emotions as you began to raise this little boy in your arms, the cutest little fellow you ever saw, of course. Yeah, I agree with you there. He was very, very cute. But most of all, I think My thoughts were You know, here I am, there's no family around us.
no one to sort of come by and say Congratulations, we were on our own. But I enjoyed every minute. We did get to know some older couples at the church we attended who. were delighted for us as well. I kept thinking about my mom, how it was for her.
When she gave birth to me and raised me, I was the oldest of four. I have three younger brothers. And I kept thinking about my mom and how I wish that she could be there in the early days of Christopher's life. and calling my mom in the middle of the night. The first night we had Christopher, I remember calling.
We were up with him, feeding him. And it was morning there. And how excited we were to call with this news that we had become parents. And that obviously that was a joyful time for them and for us and uh You know, they did my parents did come and visit when he was about nine months old. Yeah, I mean, we're telling our story.
Obviously, we praise God for it. It was all to the glory of God. I'm sure some are listening. Uh like us who Are couples and you don't have children, and I ask that you consider adoption. Obviously, it's not for everyone, you have to pray about it, but for us, it was a tremendous blessing.
And through Christopher, Uh those of you who Our Calvary Church, no, we have three. grandchildren all born here. in Charlotte. But back to Uh Dallas, uh when I graduated from Dallas. Uh Christopher was um Only 18 months old.
And uh The first church I pastored was in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. And we'll leave the next episode to talk about the churches. where I served. If you are looking to the Lord to answer some prayer as we were, be faithful, be diligent. The Lord's timing is always the best.
We can be impatient. But as you wait on the Lord, you'll be renewed in strength. You will mount up with wings like eagles. You will run and not be weary. You will walk and not faint.
Abyssando. You're listening to the weekly Avizandam podcast from The Verdict, featuring Pastor John Monroe. John is Senior Pastor at Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. Listen to John's daily program, The Verdict, on broadcast radio or major podcast platforms. For more information about the Verdict Ministry, visit us online at calvarychurch.com/slash the verdict.
