Yes, at one point two of my children were orphans.
But that is not their identity...I don't ever want them defined as "orphans".
I don't ever want them to feel like orphans.
Yet, I want them to remember.
I want them to have compassion for those who have to face the tragedy that they did.
I hope their hearts are not hardened from this event,
but softened.
They are two sons.
Two sons of their first family, two sons of ours, and most importantly, two sons of our Lord.
The day we met them they were expecting us.
They were nervous,
but they were not shy.
(Meeting Sintayehu and Bizayehu for the very first time.)
As other children, too many to count, gathered around to watch our first meeting,
They knew they finally had what all of the other children at Layla are still dreaming of.
A family. They were orphans no more.
(just 10 minutes after meeting)
They took bottles of water back to Layla with them each time we visited.
To share with the other kids.
They gave away their new bubbles, stickers, and balloons.
Because they understood.
Is our responsibility of caring for the orphans over because we brought two of them home?
Absolutely not.
So...
our quest continues.
To pray and seek where God would lead us next
in caring for the orphans and widows.
I don't ever want them to feel like orphans.
Yet, I want them to remember.
I want them to have compassion for those who have to face the tragedy that they did.
I hope their hearts are not hardened from this event,
but softened.
They are two sons.
Two sons of their first family, two sons of ours, and most importantly, two sons of our Lord.
The day we met them they were expecting us.
They were nervous,
but they were not shy.
(Meeting Sintayehu and Bizayehu for the very first time.)As other children, too many to count, gathered around to watch our first meeting,
They knew they finally had what all of the other children at Layla are still dreaming of.
A family. They were orphans no more.
(just 10 minutes after meeting)They took bottles of water back to Layla with them each time we visited.
To share with the other kids.
They gave away their new bubbles, stickers, and balloons.
Because they understood.
Is our responsibility of caring for the orphans over because we brought two of them home?
Absolutely not.
So...
our quest continues.
To pray and seek where God would lead us next
in caring for the orphans and widows.
Where is He pulling your heart?
2 comments:
This is a great post. Thanks.
I do not know if I wrote to let you know that I did get the blog added to Ethiopian Adoption Blogs.
I have enjoyed reading about your journey very much.
This post is remarkable. I love the photo that goes with it. I've read, and heard so much about it, but that picture is both priceless, and an inspiration.
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