Different

There is a lot weighing on my heart.  Some of it is not adoption related, but being in the process of an international adoption of a child with special needs is always on my heart as we continue toward that goal, and therefore, everything is currently being filtered through that perspective.      

We live in a world of differences.  Those of us born towards the end of the last century grew up being told things like, "Dare to be different." There was a push in media and education to acknowledge and accept one another's differences.  When the differences hit too close to home, however, it's not always so simple. 

There are many "different" kinds of families, churches, schools, classes within schools...this list could get really long.  Impossibly long.  

To list all the different types of just one of these groups, you would first have to define "same".  Then everything else would go on the list of "different".

What makes the differences??  The individuals within each group.  Have you ever met two people exactly the same?  Not even identical twins are truly the same.

It turns out that "different" is just a word we use when we mean "not the same as me."  Or "not what I'm comfortable with".  Or "not what I'd prefer."

Sometimes different is just a matter of lifestyle preferences and we can say "to each his/her own" and go about our business without really being bothered.  We sometimes think to ourselves "I could never do that job, marry that kind of person, live in that kind of home/neighborhood/town/etc., have that kind of wedding, raise my children that way, attend a church like that"...and on and on.  

However, when asked to tolerate "different" in our personal spaces at our workplaces, churches, schools and families, different sometimes becomes uncomfortable and inconvenient.  

This is when we are called to love like Jesus.  It's easy to love those who are easy to love.  But when people seem altered, contrary, offbeat, peculiar, or unequal (all synonyms of different according to Thesaurus.com),  and we welcome them into our homes, churches, classrooms and workplaces anyway - THEN we are loving like Jesus.  

It's not always easy because sometimes different smells bad, has speech impediments, looks unsightly, or exhibits behaviors that make us want to keep our distance.  But not much about living a life sold out to Christ is easy or easily understood.  Even by those living it.  Yet, the beauty of His plan is unmistakable.  We must seek Him first and above all else in order to see that beauty.

During Jesus' earthly ministry, He performed many miracles.  And many believed.  He also spent a lot of time with those considered "different".  He came for all of us.  He died for all of us.  Regardless of our differences.  

He longs for each of us to come home to Him.  For eternity.  But while we are here, we must be about his business.  Fulfilling our calling in the body of Christ and encouraging others to do the same, even if their calling is different than ours.

1 Peter 2:9
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

Matthew 5:

 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:

2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.  

The National Down Syndrome Congress has a campaign called "More alike than different".  People with Down Syndrome are different than people without Down Syndrome, but who really is the SAME?  Even though this post is about differences in general, the link below gives some great perspective about Down Syndrome, which is Maeve's diagnosis.

http://www.ndsccenter.org/morealike/flash/

Regardless of our diagnosis, or lack thereof, none of us is the same.  God has a plan for every individual life and we are to use it to glorify Him with what He has given us. 

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Praising Jesus for His grace, His mercy, His unfailing love, and our beautiful children.

The Slide

Remember waiting your turn on the playground?  Particularly for the slide...

I'm not talking about the four foot plastic slide that lands you in soft, imported sand or wood chips.  I mean THE SLIDE.  

-At least ten feet above the ground at the starting point 
-Made out of shiny (HOT) metal
-Possibly bent in places from years of being not only "slid down", but also "tromped up"

Yes, that slide.  You stand behind countless others in the hot sun waiting your turn to climb a ladder the height of which future generations will only have the privilege of climbing if they go into the roofing business.  If you make it to the top without falling off and breaking a limb before you've even begun, you sit triumphantly and anticipate the thrill of rocketing toward the Earth on a slick surface willing to give as hard a landing as you are apt to bring upon yourself.

Then someone yells from below that they would like to have a turn too...the sooner the better.  The person that has climbed up behind you gives you a little nudge.  And off you goooooooooooooooooooo.  Thump.

It's over.  The anticipation.  The ride.  The thrill.  Conquered.  Done.

And you look back and immediately want to do it again.

So you RUN around and get back in line, already lamenting how loooong it will be before you again start to ascend the ladder.  Only this time you're strategizing about how not to get burnt and how to keep your skin from skidding on the way down.  

This time will be even better.

Fast forward to the adoption front:

We're still waiting in line for our turn to ascend into the friendly skies and land in EE.  We're still in line, grumbling along with the others about how long it's taking for it to be our turn.  The longer we wait, the harder it becomes to wait.  The closer we get, the further away meeting our daughter seems.  

We pray.  A lot.

While we're waiting though, we get to watch those going before us.  They report back on the conditions of their trip and about what to watch out for when we land.  We are genuinely happy for them.  They waited their turn in line just like we are.  We watch them go...and adopt...and come home and begin the hard work of attachment and bonding with their children.  Some get right back in line to answer the call again.  More precious children chosen and rescued.  It is beautiful to witness.

And we long for our turn.  And we thank God for His perfect timing, not knowing what lies ahead.  

Or when.

Christianity should be this way.  Elders should be walking the straight and narrow path as a witness the generations coming after them.  Young ones should be scrambling behind them, eager to walk with Jesus and confide in Him too, seeing the joy and peace it brings, longing to grow in Him and abide in Him because they can see how wonderful it is to be His child.  As they hide His words in their hearts and it eventually pours out of them for His glory in whatever calling He has given them, they, too, ought to be able to look back at the ones coming behind and remember what it was like.  

To be waiting, yearning, anticipating.  The good life.  The Spirit filled life.  And out of humble gratitude, thankful for their gifts and their blessings, they'll report back about their journey, warning the next generation about the snares and entrapments, but also testifying to the goodness and the fullness of living for Christ.  

We ought to be longing for that great reunion day, not knowing what lies ahead, or when.  

We are not guaranteed our next breath.  Others pass on from this world into the next every hour of every day, yet we still find ourselves surprised that it happened.  

We're so busy.  Busy, busy, busy.  

Coming, going, attaining, accomplishing.  Does it glorify Him?  Are we earnestly daily desiring to do the things that are pleasing to Him with the limited time we've been given?  Just how limited...only He knows.

It doesn't have to be big and life altering.  Just His will.  For each day.  Even in the small things.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.  Matthew 6:33

Praying for the fatherless this Father's day.  Praying that the desires of their hearts will be granted, and that they too will know what it is to follow a loving Father.

Our God is Greater

Another, smaller batch of documents began its journey from our home to Eastern Europe today.  

We need one more piece of paper...just one.  

Once it joins the others in EE, we will be completely submitted and waiting to be invited to travel.  But first, we need that one last piece of paper.  Imagine our surprise when we found out yesterday that it may take longer to get it than we previously thought due to some unforeseen circumstances.

I will admit that after weeks of working toward this goal of having all of our documents completed and sent to EE with little to no delays (yay! Praise the Lord!), this small kink (a possibly two month kink) kinda threw me for a minute.  

It's that feeling of shock you get when you hear that unexpected news.  Even though you know God's got it.  Even though you know that there is so much that you actually don't know because His ways are so much higher and so much better.  
   
You know the song..."Our God is Greater"!  Sing it with us.  Pray with us for continued grace and mercy and HIS perfect timing.  No human plans can alter that, however it may look through our limited vision.  

Our sweet daughter on another continent was made by Him and He loves her more than we could ever dream.  We are just the ones privileged to be entrusted with her care for a while.  

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55: 8-9

Please continue to pray for Maeve to know us in a supernatural way.  And for that piece of paper to come supernaturally fast!  In Jesus' name!