Uncle Jon

To Jon, Our Son and Brother
(At his adoption)

You don't always get to choose your children,
and siblings don't always get to choose each other;
But Jon, for 31 years and forever, this family has chosen you
to be our son and brother.



Every child is a gift of God - as is every sister, brother, father, mother.
And today we celebrate (what we have long known)
that on the day you came to us, into our family's loving circle
slipped it's eldest son and brother.



Today we celebrate the grace of God - our God -
who loves you as no other.
And we celebrate the family ties you claim as yours -
that God the Father calls you son, and that Jesus calls you brother.



And so today we're thanking God for drawing us together;
for binding us with cords of love that time and space won't sever.
We're thanking God for his great plan -
that we would choose each other.
And so with wife and children at your side,
we claim you, Jon, as son and brother.

For Jon with Love,
Patty Hogan