This is a repost from three years ago, just after we brought home Dimples and Gus. That January was a very hard time for our family, but it was so very worth it . . . and this year, as we enjoy the fruits of all of our labor, I have thought a lot about how blessed we are. I hope you are encouraged by this little flashback.
Today a friend posted the following quote in regards to adoption:
“We didn’t sign up for easy.”
It struck such a chord with me; I literally broke down and sobbed sitting right here at my computer. You see, I am so full of gratitude for the blessings we have seen this month, for the fact that Gus is beginning to want to communicate, that the children are relatively healthy, that our trip to Ethiopia was wonderful and I long to do more/know more about the wonderful place that will always hold a part of my children’s hearts. Yet I am so very in touch with my sinfulness – with my complete inability to meet all of these children’s needs at every moment. In my own strength I just don’t have enough patience, enough grace, enough washing machine capacity to get it all done! But God does, and He has shown me that again and again this last month.
Beyond all of that I am keenly aware that however hard this is, I so badly want to show these children the love of God. I fail daily, probably even every minute…yet I want what God wants for our family, even if it is hard. I want to know God more. He might not bring us hardship, but He might…and that is okay.
Gratitude Send some rain, would You send some rain? ‘Cause the earth is dry and needs to drink again And the sun is high and we are sinking in the shade Would You send a cloud, thunder long and loud? Let the sky grow black and send some mercy down Surely You can see that we are thirsty and afraid But maybe not, not today Maybe You’ll provide in other ways And if that’s the case… We’ll give thanks to You with gratitude for lessons learned in how to thirst for You How to bless the very sun that warms our face if You never send us rain Daily bread, give us daily bread Bless our bodies, keep our children fed Fill our cups, then fill them up again tonight Wrap us up And warm us through Tucked away beneath our sturdy roofs Let us slumber safe from danger’s view this time Or maybe not, not today Maybe You’ll provide in other ways And if that’s the case We’ll give thanks to you With gratitude A lesson learned to hunger after You That a starry sky offers a better view if no roof is overhead And if we never taste that bread Oh, the differences that often are between Everything we want and what we really need So grant us peace, Jesus, grant us peace Move our hearts to hear a single beat Between alibis and enemies tonight Or maybe not, not today Peace might be another world awayAnd if that’s the case… We’ll give thanks to you With Gratitude for lessons learned in how to trust in You That we are blessed beyond what we could ever dream In abundance or in need And if You never grant us peace But Jesus, would you please…. –from Nicole Nordeman’s cd, Woven & Spun
