Over a year ago, I was missing a child I had yet to hold in
its newborn perfectness. I sensed a need for the one we had been lost before we even
met, and yet our children’s bedrooms seemed already
filled to the brim. Lots of needs spilled out on most days, and with four former orphan
hearts and one dependent toddler it was enough to put me at the worn out point
each day. There never seemed to be more to give each day yet He always
filled my pitcher with just what I needed for what each day required. Sure
there were moments of sin and faintness, but the constant remainder with His
tender ways that the more I am emptied the more I will see Him in Christ’s full
glory was the everyday purpose and joy.
I poured…He filled to
enough.
I was content and still there was daily a quiet prayer
between me and my Father. I uttered the words unsure that the desire would ever
be met. The prayer was for mercy. I didn’t know if it was in a general sense
over my life and my family or was it a person. I sensed that there was a little
girl and that God in His majesty would reveal His mercy through this miraculous
life whether a baby from my own womb or a beautiful-broken-perfect story with
another adoption or just in our families life being used for His glory.
Now over a year later…
In our final weeks in America this summer, the Lord awakened
us to welcoming another into our already bustling family. He led us to a
precious little girl, living in our adopted home country. China now not only
held our worldly goods, all waiting for us in our fourth floor apartment, now it
held our heart. One that has been given a life of heartache, both physically
and emotionally.
Our family is led to
a place of complete dependence and pure joy in the new journey of adding one
who was born with a life threating heart condition that has led her to weakness
and physical suffering. A year after a daily prayer begging for mercy, recently looked back on my
journal at that time, now know it was at a critical point for her weakening
body, a surgery that meant life for this gift of Mercy.
As her soon to be parents, we will daily be reminded of this
life that can be painful even in the tiniest breath or by trying to keep a busy
toddler from exerting too much energy as she will run and play beside her five
older siblings.
Though there will be limitations, already this one has given
us a vision into the heavenly’s with His watch care of this one darling girl.
Our prayer is to be a shade in a parched land and to strengthen the weak with a
strength from our Maker.
A theme of Forever
continues to flow and our life moves on to a seed like journey of faith and seeing His
Kingdom come as He brings to us one in need of love. We are confident that she will no doubt
pour out to us much more to our hearts than we could ever give in return.
We covet your prayers as we continue on in the journey of
preparing our home, hearts and children for this dear one. There is more
paperwork to overcome and more mountains that need to be moved, but oh how
confident we are of His working and provision. Please be praying for our
precious Mercy for her health and her desire to be ready to join our tribe. We
would appreciate your prayers for us as its especially hard knowing she is out
there and awaiting love and a future critical surgery.
Oh, and also just so you know…the other five can’t wait to
bring their baby sister home. They amaze me with a spirit of embracing everyone
and every situation.
