I've avoided writing, because I just simply can't fathom doing it justice with my words.
Yet, I've felt lately that I must try. God has far too good a story to tell through my life to keep silent! And, really, there is an ending (a beginning?) that I want to share with everyone. So I'm going to start trying. May His words shine through to those who need it!
When we were waiting to bring Dorothy home, I kept encountering people who were touched by the idea of adoption as we shared of our daughter waiting a world away. Many even told me that they’d felt a tug on their heart to adopt, or help orphans. Often, along with those comments, unprompted by me, would tumble any number of disclaimers.
“We just strive to live a comfortable life”
“I don’t need a lot, but you don’t want to get crazy about it, do you?”
“I’d love to adopt, but it just costs so much, and takes so long”
I listened and didn’t judge, because I had travelled that road, myself. Before fully jumping in, I anguished over all the inconveniences and costs and difficulties of adding another child to our home. I still understand the internal battle; it’s just that with us, Love won out.
But, one comment caused an ache within me. I pondered it for days.
“If someone showed up on my doorstep with a baby, then I would know it was God’s will to adopt”
Apart from wanting desperately to get a baby on that person’s doorstep, I wanted to understand. All the other disclaimers admit a personal decision- a choice. That last one puts the responsibility squarely on God’s shoulders- He didn’t show me that it’s His will to care for orphans.
Or did He?
"Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows."
Isaiah 1:17
"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice."
Proverbs 31:8-9
"Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you."
James 1:27
It wasn’t long after this, that God gave me a mental picture- an illustration- an insight. As a challenge, I share it with you:
I am sitting, in our living room, with our surround sound, our big screen TV, and our air-conditioned air. Our large-paned windows separate this clean and cozy family home from the outside. Our next-door neighbor’s yard of trees and shrubs is visible. They’re enjoying their air-conditioning, too. So is the rest of the street. With shiny cars parked in the drive, and well-branded clothing hung in closets. No one stands out as being rich; we’re all at the same level of comfort. “Nothing fancy”, just normal, average, suburban America.
A world away, are child soldiers. Millions of orphans. Poverty. Sickness. Disease. Starvation. Maybe in Africa where people live in mud hut villages? Or India where street children care for each other? But, they’re far. Far too very far for you to see. So they remain statistics- nameless. Faceless.
We remain inactive.
But, a shift in the vision, and then these same hurting people are in our own country. Our town, neighborhood, and house remain the same, but we hear of these people only a few hundred miles from us. The hungry, parentless children are on the news and we send some money, and then flip the channel as we shift uncomfortably in our seats feeling thankful it’s not us and that we live where we live. “We are so blessed”.
Then, the vision shifts again, and our house is the only one standing on our once-fine street. We still have everything we did before: air-conditioning, running water, cable, furniture, healthy hot meals, books and soft comfy beds. But, outside, well-worn footpaths trace around our home from the poor who live around us. In fact, as I watch a movie, a few kids peer in through the window to see the finery and lavishness. They look hungry. And all that separates us is a pane of glass.
What I realized in that illustration was this: the distance shouldn’t matter! We should be uncomfortable with the knowledge of their plight, and should be motivated to act! Whether a child is fatherless in a foreign land, or fatherless and abandoned on your very own porch makes no difference. My resources are the same. My ability to impact a life is the same. God’s expectation of me is the same. And, if I truly follow Him, I already know how He feels.
Never take advantage of any widow or orphan. If you do and they cry out to Me, you can be sure that I will hear their cry.
Exodus 22:22-23
