All that to say: WE’RE READY!! Andy got the ‘cushion’ with work that helped him, we got to wrap up school (sans grading), everyone’s onto summer mode, their room is ready, boys bags are packed, and now we still wait. I was willing to give all that up though. I’m not sure I was ready for this leg of the wait. I didn’t want to ‘be still’ after leaving Ethiopia. I had many things to do and we had many battles of small ‘sicknesses’ that kept me from doing them, but I still was occupied by the day. Not good when God has made clear: BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD throughout this whole process. Should I be surprised that OUR prayers (that includes many of you) have been answered with a “WAIT”? I don’t think so.
I’ve mentioned before how much blessing is in the wait when we trust that God will work it for our good. Even so, I’ve wrestled with this. We believe God calls the church to care for orphans. Simply stated, but not simply done. What we’ve come to learn in this ‘caring’ is that it involves the heart. Now one can care for someone without letting it hit their heart. I do it. It doesn’t hurt quite so much. Often in our Western culture it looks like charity or giving. That’s not all bad. There’s much said in Scripture about provisions and meeting needs. I do believe this is a piece of God’s call to care for orphans. That said, I don’t think it’s all of it. Whether the orphan,widow or poor...there’s more.
There’s more because Jesus was always about the heart. He still is! You see, we began this journey trying to “care for” orphans and those called to adoption. I think that was good and helpful. Minus some $s and time though, not much else changed in our lives. Jesus didn’t think that was enough for us. I’m really glad. The caring for turned into caring. Isn’t that the heart of the Gospel? God DELIGHTS IN US. He CARES for us. He TAKES JOY IN US. This isn’t a ‘meet our needs’ caring! It’s way beyond that. It involved heart, soul and life.
That’s where I find myself. 6 weeks home and I’m still not adjusted from our time in Ethiopia. I hope I never am (when I’m real with myself). You see, CARING for others in need comes with a cost. It costs in aches of the heart. To ache with those we care for and to ache at what it stirs in us. WE WANT TO AVOID THAT!! It’s hard. I don’t know what that looks like as I attempt to care for others. I don’t even know what that will look like as I care for my no-longer-orphaned boys that will act like orphans. I DO KNOW, I have been cared for with HEART and can let my heart be trusted to the ONE who knows what it’s like to care.
The last week I’ve ached. It’s foreign. I work hard to not ache. I can’t help it ...I care. I care for our boys waiting and I care for the kids who will always wait. I ache for the poor and dying moms. I share a taste of the heart of Jesus caring for me...and caring for you. Care: VERB: to attach importance to something/someone.
What do you CARE FOR? If it’s something God cares for too, then it’s WORTH THE ACHE! We know ours is short-lived, but it points to a bigger longing we believe God places in us for Him. Thankfully, that ache can be met:)
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