Transition Prayer Passage

I got to talk with my sister-in-law last night, and right off the bat she wanted to encourage me by letting me know that she's praying this passage over Judah and Addise these days. She said that whenever her family been in transition due to any move or change, this has been the passage they've prayed over their transition. Of course, it's fitting that Sarah Beth would pray this over our kids. Tears...thanks, SB, for loving our kids well!

Psalm 121

¹ I look up to the mountains—
does my help come from there?
² My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth!

³ He will not let you stumble;
the one who watches over you will not slumber.
⁴ Indeed, he who watches over Israel
never slumbers or sleeps.

⁵ The Lord himself watches over you!
The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.
⁶ The sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon at night.

⁷ The Lord keeps you from all harm
and watches over your life.
⁸ The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go,
both now and forever.

Transitions

Think about the last big move you had [for every member of my family of origin, this is a recent reality]. Stressful? Exhausting? Emotionally draining? Nerve wracking? Time consuming? Yes, I'm sure to most of those feelings and probably a few more.

Now think about being 2 or 3 years old and feeling all of those feelings, but not being able to rationalize it, put it into perspective, articulate your feelings, verbalize your loss and processing, and truly understand what's happening in your world.

That is the reality for kids facing adoption. That is Judah's reality as a nearly 2 1/2 year old little guy who can't speak English, hasn't had parents in a long time, and lives in a very different world that our zip code. That is Addise's reality who's spent the vast majority of her life in an orphanage.

For both of our kids, they are facing their 4th transition in their short lives!! Have you had to move homes 4 times in 1 year? Probably not. Then, throw in the fact that you now how different care takers, nutrition, bed, and surroundings and you'll get a snapshot into the kind of grieving, loss, and transition that our little ones are experiencing. It's unfathomable to me.

As I've been grieving alongside my kids for their transitions and loss, I've wondered how they felt with Brian and I coming to their 3rd home, loving on them for 3 days, then leaving them. Do they understand what's happening? Do they know we are their parents, or do they just think that we're another set of hands to hold them?
I was sharing my questions with another adoptive mom at Newsong whose adopted daughter is an adult and she said something that seared into my heart: there's something different about a mother's and father's touch - they know the difference. I don't know if research and developmental experts would confirm her words of comfort, but I have to believe that there IS something different about the way we held, kissed, and played with Judah and Addise. It seems like a supernatural thing God would do to remind them that we have not left them as orphans [John 14:18].

All I know is that since we've been back from Ethiopia [2 weeks ago today!], I've been praying for their souls to be healed and prepared for another transition AND that we'd get that December 14th Embassy date!!!

Importance of Orphanages

I'm deeply grateful for Sister Asayech [below] and the nannies who've been caring for Judah and Addise for the past 5-6 months. Deeply, immeasurably thankful. They have been the hands and feet of Jesus to me for our kids. Sister Asayech is a woman who cares immensely about the care of widows and orphans in her country. She works on their behalf in ways I will never understand. My heart wells with appreciation for her and many others who are like her in Ethiopia.

Sister Asayech runs the orphanage that our kids are at right now. Yet, I'm confident that she would agree with me on this thought:

Orphanages are not God's ultimate design.
They are not his intention.
They are not the end for children.
Every child deserves to be in a forever family, loved permanently by a family.

Somewhere along the way of infertility and adoption, something has changed in me. As a result, I'm not sure if anything grabs the heart of God more than caring for widows and orphans. It's changing my heart forever.

Orphanages are NOT God's Plan A. Plan A is a forever family. I'm profoundly grateful that we are a part of God's Plan A for Judah and Addise. I'm oddly grateful that our Plan A didn't happen in the way we expected, because if it did Judah and Addise wouldn't be our children. And I'm grateful that God uses orphanages to complete his Plan A.

My dream would be that orphanages would cease to exist because every child has a home in the home of Christ follower. Can you imagine that kind of world? What would you need to do in order to make that kind of world reality!?!?!??!!?