MATT REDMOND from Soul Revival Church shares how his own adoption, and being adopted into God’s family, inspired him to write a book to ensure no child would forget who they are.
I always knew I was adopted. Growing up, my parents were open about it – they had fostered children before adopting my sister and me.
On my shelf, I kept a book titled You Are Adopted. Whenever I had questions about my identity, I would pull it off the shelf and read it, trying to make sense of my place in the world. I remember many tearful moments with my Mum and Dad, asking, “Why didn’t my birth parents want me? Who am I? Where do I fit in?”
Being adopted has given me a unique perspective on my relationship with God.
When I was 11, I was adopted again – into God’s family. It was at a beach mission at Burrill Lake, where I heard of our need to be reconciled with God. The message was simple but profound: I wasn’t friends with God, and to be friends with him, I needed to be friends with Jesus. That changed everything for me. I knew I was loved by my adoptive parents, but now I understood that God loved me, too. That day I became part of a much bigger family.
A few years later, I decided to be confirmed. Our minister, wanting my family to understand the decision I was making, offered to go through Christianity Explained with all of us. It was during a study of Ephesians 2 that things really clicked for Mum and Dad. They began to understand the gospel was about grace, not about what we could do to earn God’s favour. We were all confirmed together, which was an incredible moment of unity and faith for us as a family.
Being adopted has given me a unique perspective on my relationship with God. I sometimes imagine a king under siege from an enemy. He could choose to save his villagers by inviting them into the courtyard; those he especially wants to care for might be invited into the keep or into his home. God has done all these things and more. While vanquishing his enemy, he brought us into his family.
As someone who is adopted, I feel like I understand this more deeply. God didn’t just rescue me from sin – he brought me close, where he is our Father, we are his children, and Jesus is my brother.
The story I want every child to hear
This understanding of adoption – both earthly and spiritual – helped inspire my children’s book, The Forgetful Prince. Originally shared as a story I made up at bedtime and later wrote down as a legacy piece for my son, my wife and I realised that the themes were universal. The story follows a boy named Atticus who has forgotten he is a prince. Along the way, he meets some whimsical animals who help him remember who he truly is.
One of my favourite characters in the book is the owl, who reminds Atticus he is part of a bigger kingdom. It’s a reminder of hope for our future, that we are part of something much larger than ourselves. Then there’s the chameleon, who tells Atticus, “You weren’t made to skulk and blend in”. This is a reminder that, as Christians, we are called to live confidently and let our light shine in the world.
The animals represent the kind of friends we all need in our Christian walk – people who will guide us back to the truth of the gospel, reminding us of our true identity and who we are in God’s eyes. I am grateful for the people who have done that with me over the years.
Writing The Forgetful Prince was deeply personal. It wasn’t just crafting a story for children – it was about offering the comfort I found in my own adoption journey. While I was comforted by the knowledge that I was loved by my adoptive parents, it was God’s love for me that brought a profound sense of peace and joy beyond anything I had experienced before. I want this book to do the same for children, to help them find comfort in knowing who they are as God’s children and to live boldly as Christians.
My wife Lauren created beautiful watercolour paintings to illustrate the book, and we delight in seeing children engage with the story by recreating its pictures themselves.
In our family, we also use the book’s themes as a springboard for conversations about faith and identity.
In our family, we also use the book’s themes as a springboard for conversations about faith and identity. My kids know I’m adopted, and it gives them a unique perspective on God’s love and what it means to be part of his family.
We often reference the book during dinner conversations or in casual moments. I’ll say something like, “Remember what the chameleon said about not blending in? You can do that at school by shining your light”. It’s become a tool for us to remind our kids of who they are in Christ.
I hope The Forgetful Prince will become that kind of book for other families as well. I want it to be the book that children pull off the shelf when they need a reminder of who they truly are, just like I used to pull You Are Adopted off the shelf as a kid. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the noise and confusion of life, but we all need reminders of the simplicity of the gospel: that we are loved, we are chosen, and we are part of God’s family.
Ultimately, the book is about grace. It’s about coming to our heavenly Father, who is always ready to welcome us with open arms. We may have forgotten who we are or are struggling to understand our place in the world, but God is always ready to remind us that we belong to him. That’s the message I want The Forgetful Prince to carry into the hearts of every child and family who reads it. We are adopted into God’s family, and that is a beautiful reality – a story we should never forget!
The Forgetful Prince is available through [url=http://www.youthworksmedia.net]http://www.youthworksmedia.net[/url] and other Christian bookstores. You can learn more about the book and download free resources at [url=http://www.theforgetfulprince.com]http://www.theforgetfulprince.com[/url]
