EP. 79: Orphan Identity (with Lorilee Craker)

The word “orphan” may feel like a title that doesn’t fit for most of us, but have you ever felt alone? Left out? Like you don’t belong? On this episode of God Hears Her, Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy are joined by Lorilee Craker to talk about the orphan inside us all. Lorilee shares her own story of being adopted and how she learned that the orphan in us all truly belongs in the kingdom of God.

About Our Guest:

Lorilee Craker is the author of 15 books, including Anne of Green Gables, My Daughter, and Me. Lorilee was also an entertainment writer for The Grand Rapids Press for 17 years. She now writes for travel websites, blogs, and speaks at many events including writers conferences. She is the cofounder of the Breathe Christian Writers Conference and a writers day camp for children.

Notes and Quotes: 

• “I’m very pro-adoption, but I’m clear that adoption is not all rainbows and sunshine. There’s a lot of pain. There are a lot of things to be reckoned with.”
• “My spirit really responded to Anne [of Green Gables] and how she was always looking for belonging. She was always looking for her people.”
• “The truth is we can all feel orphaned.”
• “One of the dictionary definitions that I found for orphans was ‘bereft, left behind, and left.’ . . . In Christ we are orphans no more. And we’ve all felt bereft, left behind, and left.”
• “Once you’re adopted, that doesn’t mean the orphan feelings go away.”
• “God is not an adoptive Father, He’s an adopting Father. It’s ongoing. It’s part of His character to adopt children.”
• “Any rejection, any abandonment is an opportunity to grow closer to the heart of the Father.”
• “God wants to be there with us. He doesn’t want us to dress up like we’re going to church before talking to Him. He wants us when we’re lying on the floor with our face in the carpet so sad, so bereft, so left behind. That’s when He wants to come to us. And dry our tears. And move through the pain with us.” 

Links: 

• God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/
• God Hears Her newsletter sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/signup
• Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast
• Free resource: We Are His: Belonging to the Family of God
• Lorilee’s book: Anne of Green Gables, My Daughter, and Me
• Lorilee’s website: www.lorileecraker.com/
• Lorilee’s Instagram: thebooksellersdaughter
• Elisa’s Instagram: elisamorganauthor
• Eryn’s Instagram: eryneddy