Time Flies When You're Adding to the Family...

Life is crazy. I know we all say that, and to a certain degree, most of us mean it.

But I really mean it this time. It appears that I haven't blogged since August 17th, which is practically an eon ago. In fact, I think I may have even forgot about this blog. (Cringe...) Since that lovely summer day nearly two months ago when I last put the hands to the keyboard on this site there have been so many changes in our home and our lives. First, we bought a new house and sold the old one. We now live the the thriving metropolis of Wichita, Kansas. (HA!) But seriously, we actually live right downtown which is really neat and is such a change of pace for our family. We've begun our very first homeschool year and have been thoroughly enthralled with the joys of spending 24/7 with our dear son, T. He has come such a long, long way since he first became our son. I am watching him blossom into this beautiful young man who is learning to love learning for the very first time in his life. It can be an upward battle, but he really is coming along. More on this issue, one of my many soapbox rants, later. In addition to the move and the new role as homeschool mom, we are also slowly introducing our second son, Z, to our home. He spent his very first night at our home just a few days ago and it was quite an experience to say the least. Z is nine years old and has spent the majority of his years in foster care in one way or another. He has two bio siblings, both of which were adopted through other placements that chose to pass on Z. I cannot fathom for one second how any right-thinking adult could have three biological siblings living in their home and then tell two of them that they are not wanted and send them on their way. And, then to have another set of seemingly rational adults take in these two lost little guys only to decide that they want one and not the other. My sad little Z has waited so long for someone to want HIM. He spends the days before our visits pacing back and forth and wringing his hands. He is sure that we will eventually see the light and decide that he is not the one for us. He "knows" that there are other kids who are better than he is, better behaved, cuter, smarter. He told me tonight that I was so sweet to leave a message on the foster home answering machine when no one answered last night. Loving these kids is easy, really easy. Understanding the choices that have been made to abuse and then leave them, that is the impossible part. I know I've said this before but I'll say it again and again. We are NOT special people, my dear husband and I. I hate hearing that, how special we are, noble, kind, generous. Those words leave the impression that only superheroes can take these kids in and raise them as their own. Those words are used time and time again as empty excuses for the lack of responsibility that we, as a whole, are willing to take for the orphans in our own backyards. Nathan and I are both 27 years old. We've been married just under three years. We have an average, one income home, two cars - used and cheap. Neither of us has a four year degree, nor have we ever been parents to biological children. We don't have magic wands or manuals or the hidden secret. We've responded to the call from our Lord to care for the orphans. It isn't just our call, rather, it is a call meant for all believers in His word. And, I'm sorry to say, our country, the land of the free and the brave, isn't any different from sub-Saharan African nations with bloated bellied babies orphaned by the AIDS epidemic. We face another epidemic. Adults choosing to abuse children, to ignore the responsibility they agreed to when they shared a bed with another adult. That irresponsibility is coupled with a twisted, garbled system of underpaid, overworked people attempting to find good, loving people to care for already broken children. Just this weekend in our neighborhood a two year old girl was found wandering down a very busy city street on her own at 9 am. When police returned the girl to her home they discovered conditions unfit for a child. They also discovered five other children living in those conditions. Now six, young, beautiful, broken babies remain in police protective custody until a court determines the best course of action. That, my friends, is a crisis calling for an answer. In his bible study entitled, Experiencing God, Henry Blackaby tells his readers to discover where God is working and then join Him there. So often as Christians we look for a place in God's kingdom where we can serve in a manner that is comfortable and part time. We don't want the hard work or the work that comes without glory and praise. We don't want the service that requires the literal washing of dirty feet. We feel good about ourselves when we visit the shelter once a year and serve a meal or when we serve on the greeting team at church and we call these things service to God. Now, I do not wish to discount these things as they are good and needed and we participate in those things as well but I do not believe that these are the things Jesus was speaking of when He commanded us to care for the widows and orphans. Jesus talks about a servant in Luke 17 and shares a metaphor that ends with a humble attitude that I believes He desires us to have. He says, "So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.'" I know that I have been told to care for the orphans. Doing that does not entitle me to greatness or superiority. It is merely our duty as believers to take on the great blessing of doing as we have been told to do. We ARE most unworthy of praise or accolades. In reality, we are even unworthy of the incredible blessing that comes from hearing that little voice say, 'I Love You Mom'. I apologize for my absence and will make my best effort to be ever present here with and for anyone who wishes to learn and share more about the least of these. Please be reminded that the orphans in your backyard have faces too and they have bellies and hearts that are empty. These orphans need Jesus and they need parents, real, committed parents who will not turn back.