What Can We Do?

There are SO many children in need of a loving home--almost 150 million worldwide.  This problem is complex and sadly most of these won't be adopted, but why aren't more families stepping up and providing loving homes for these little ones?  I think sometimes we tend to overthink things and talk ourselves out of it.   We feel like we have to have it all figured out before we take a leap of faith or that our life needs to be wrapped up perfectly with a nice, shiny bow that doesn't include taking a risk on an orphan who could "ruin" our family.  We think we have to have our act together before we bring another child in to our home.  We say that we'll do it someday, and then we get busy with other things and never take the initiative to pursue it.  We see the cost involved and become overwhelmed.  There's so much that can prevent solid, Christian families from adopting.  Yet, there are SO many children yearning for and in need of a home.  Take a look at this list of "special needs" children in China, and be reminded of a few of them. 

God has these things to say in His word regarding orphans and adoption:

In you the orphan finds mercy.

                          --Hosea 14:3

Never take advantage of any widow or orphan. If you do and they cry out to me, you can be sure that I will hear their cry.

                         --Exodus 22:22-23

You are the helper of the fatherless. LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear, To do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, That the man of the earth may oppress no more.

                          --Psalms 10:14,17-18

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

                          --James 1:27

Father to the fatherless, defender of widows — this is God, whose dwelling is holy. God places the lonely in families.

                           --Psalms 68:5-6

When you are harvesting your crops and forget to bring in a bundle of grain from your field, don’t go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigners, orphans, and widows. Then the LORD your God will bless you in all you do.

                            --Deuteronomy 24:19

Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.

                            --Isaiah 1:17

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.

                            --Proverbs 31:8-9

And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me.

                           --Matthew 18:5

I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!

                            --Matthew 25:40

The call is clear, and I believe wholeheartedly that when you help orphans, you come close to the heart of God.  I know He doesn't call everyone to adopt, but what else can we do to obey this command to defend the cause of the Fatherless?  Check out this LIST to get some ideas.

Quote of the (er) Week

" North Americans are simply not doing enough.  We are the richest people ever to walk the face of the earth.  Period.  Yet, most of us live as though there is nothing terribly wrong in the world.  We attend our kids' soccer games, pursue our careers, and take beach vacations while 40 percent of the world's inhabitants struggle just to eat every day.  And in our own backyards, the homeless, those residing in ghettos, and a wave of immigrants live in a world outside the economic and social mainstream of North America.  We do not necessarily need to feel guilty about our wealth.  But we do need to get up every morning with a deep sense that something is terribly wrong with the world and yearn and strive to do something about it.  There is simply not enough yearning and striving going on."

--Brian Fikkert from his book, When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor and Yourself

Transitions & Reason's to Smile

 

I haven't blogged in a couple of weeks because we've needed time to transition with all the changes that a new school year brings.  Two in particular have been major. 

Numero uno is homeschooling.  There were several moments, the first week in particular that I wondered what we were thinking when we decided to homeschool--I even had thoughts of re-registering Grace for pre-school a couple of days late.  After months and months of research and prayer, I had felt pretty certain that this is where God had been leading us, but was really wondering if I had missed something.  Now that we're getting in to a bit of a rhythm with it, and the onslaught of Facebook status updates proclaiming how wonderful it is to send your children off to preschool have subsided (no offense if you yourself were a culprit--I know that no harm was meant!:), I'm so glad that we made this choice.  I know that it's not the right choice for every family in every season, but this year (or semester--who knows!) it is the right choice for us, and God has been so gracious to show and remind me how much our family is being blessed by it.

A couple of days before we began homeschooling, Grace went to the chalkboard and wrote her name on her own.  She had never done this before, and it was so cool to be reminded of how eager she is to learn.

Next major transition is that Jamey was offered a job with the company he worked for this summer only a few days before he was supposed to go back to school!  We had been wondering for the past several months how we were going to live paycheck to paycheck this next year after almost emptying our savings accounts to pay for the adoption, receiving a substantial paycut due to our state's new budget repair bill, Jamey stepping away from his position as a football coach because we thought we'd be going to get Lincoln this Fall, and adding another mouth to feed.  God totally showed up, and I get goose bumps thinking about how faithful He has been to provide for us as we've stepped out in faith to follow His call to adopt.  It has been bittersweet for both of us for Jamey to step away from his teaching career, and all the students and fellow staff members that he grew to love, but we are very confident that this is where God wants him for now.

Grace, Jamey and Siena on Grace's first day of Pre-K homeschooling and Jamey's first official day with his new position.

 

 

The big transitions have kept our minds focused on other things as we are growing weary with the wait.  We were having dinner with my parents last night and they showed us this hoot of a youtube video of an old couple trying to figure out how to use their webcam, not realizing that they're being recorded. Delightfully cute and HEE-lar-ious!  God is so good to continue to sustain us and give us so many reasons to laugh as we count down the days until we see our sweet Lincoln's face.  May it be refreshing to your soul as well.  Enjoy!

 Do not become weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 
                                                                                                           --Galatians 6:9

Update

We got a phone call from our adoption coordinator early last week.  She said that they currently have 20 children available for adoption that are almost paperwork ready.  Chances are that we'll be matched in at least 4-6 weeks once their paperwork is processed.  We are probably still 11th on the waiting list-- so unless everyone ahead of us adopts a sibling group, then we'll lay eyes on our beloved boy fairly soon.  The waiting is hard, but will all be worth it for that precious, holy moment!

This is what we'll feel like when we get the call we've been waiting for.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths.  --Proverbs 3:5-6