If you have been reading my blog very long, you know that I can't go too long without talking about the orphan. It is just my heart and soul. It has been for years, but even more so since we brought our sweet baby home. We have more friends in town this week who are adopting a newborn through the same avenues that we used when we got our precious boy. This is the second family this summer from Naples. And this is their second adoption. Holding that beautiful baby girl and watching her big brother (20 months) and Patrick play together today, I thought my heart just might burst. There they were, right in front of me. Three little treasures, orphans no more.
That is the way it works, you see. One child at a time. Don't let anyone paralyze you with the words, "you can't save them all." I hear those words all the time - from strangers, friends, and even family. I don't have any misconceived notions about saving 163,000,000 orphans. Here is the deal, though. "Saving" is not my job -no one saves but God. Obeying - now, that is what I am called to do.
I read a blog called No Greater Joy Mom, I am sure many of you do too. For some reason, I can't seem to link it, but you can go to my sidebar and find it (just make sure when you click on it, you go click on the top for the most recent post). Anyway, Adeye is currently in Bulgaria on her first visit with the two children they are in the process of the adopting. Both of these children have some significant special needs, most coming from the fact that they have spent the majority of their lives in cribs! One is eight and the other fourteen. It is just more than I can wrap my mind around. A fourteen year old, weighing about fourteen pounds and spending all day every day in a crib. It is injustice in one of its basest forms. To neglect a child, a human being made in the image of God, to that extent, is just beyond my wildest comprehension. However, if you read Adye's post from today, you can see that God gave her a measure of grace that is also incomprehensible. Grace to forgive, grace to love, grace to believe that He is doing a new thing in the lives of her precious children. He alone has saved them - she simply obeyed.
Here is the real problem though. Her children are just two of the millions of children out there. Some languishing in cribs for years, giving up all hope of ever feeling the gentle touch of another human. Some are in orphanages where they are loved by many well meaning people, yet deep down in their little souls they know they were created for a family. A mommy and daddy, brothers and sisters. Someone to call their own. Even though they are not mistreated by their caregivers, they are attached to too many people. They are hungry, if not starving. They don't have basic medical care. They desperately need to belong. Some are in foster homes all over America, longing for someone to love them for who they are.
Church, we are all too quick to judge those who mistreat these precious ones. And surely, unless they repent, God will judge them one day for what they have done. But, that is His job - not ours, and those who do not claim a relationship with Him are not the ones who have a mandate from God Himself to protect the orphan. That would be us. He has not suggested, but commanded that we care for and protect these innocent ones. They would not be in a position to be mistreated by their caregivers if they were in our homes being protected by us. I am sorry, but it is the truth.
As with the state of our nation, the blame for the plight of the orphan also lands squarely on our shoulders! It is time for the church to wake up and rise up! It is time to stop making excuses for why we don't have the time, or the money, or God forbid - the patience to deal with another child. It is time we stopped believing the lies that satan whispers that say it will be too much to handle or we don't know what they have been through or it might not be good for our "own" kids. Those are all lies from the very pit of hell! Designed to throw us off guard and make us doubt ourselves and our calling before God. There is only one opinion that matters at the end of the day and He has already told us what it is.
"Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of God is this, to care for widows and orphans in their distress and keep oneself unblemished by the world."
That's it. Period.
Every time I write a post it sounds so harsh that I almost don't publish it. I want to be all flowery and poetic. And I want to be full of grace and love and forgiveness. But, honestly, when I picture the faces of these precious ones, forsaken by those who are called to protect them (I mean us, the church) - then I just can't help but be frank. I recently put a quote on my Facebook by Mother Teresa. I can't get it out of my head this week...."It is poverty to decide that a child must die so that you can live as you wish." Ouch. This hits me where it hurts. In order to have the lifestyle we want here in America, children all over the world are dying. Literally and spiritually.
I truly believe that if we all took a good look at our lives and had an honest talk with ourselves (what, you don't talk to yourself??), then we would realize that all we have to offer God is a bunch of excuses. There is not likely one of us reading this who couldn't find room in your heart and your home for one more child. I know it is expensive, I know it is a stressful, long, emotional journey. I believe though that all the issues associated with adoption are part of the natural course of sin in the world, not to mention satan's tactics. The enemy hates adoption, it is never going to be easy. That does not mean it is not worth it. The expense may be the best excuse you can come up with, but it is not a valid reason. God always pays for what He orders. I have yet to see an adoption where the funds did not come in - sometimes at the last minute, but never too late. Step out in faith - He will be your rear guard.
I found two little boys last night on a waiting child list. I can't get their sweet faces out of my head. They have some medical issues that would need to be addressed, but it would be minor compared to what their lives will be if no one comes for them. There are two of them and they are not babies anymore - both of those are "strikes" against them. The cute, cuddly babies are usually adopted first. God was gracious enough to give me five cute cuddly babies and now He has definitely turned my heart toward the ones most often left behind. I want so badly to bring them home. Would you please pray with me that God speaks to Stan about these boys and that very soon they can know what it means to belong?
Please pray and ask God what He would have you do. I promise, He has a plan for every single believer to help the orphan in one way or another.
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