Encouragment from a Stranger
Yesterday we had a conference call with our agency. I learned that they are working on another partnership with a new orphanage which is exciting of course. And that they are not expecting the amount of referrals given during court closure to diminish. As you may remember, the courts are closing on Friday for two months (or 60 days). It will re-open on my 31st birthday or soon after!
Unfortunately, I felt very discouraged after the call, although I am not sure it was the actual call that caused the wave of discouragement. I was flooded with the realization that the possibility of a sibling group 0-24months is so UNLIKELY. I think our adversary, the Devil, was having a great moment of defeating me. I haven't been feeling well this week, have had a cold, and so emotionally tears have been brimming just below the surface. Thankfully, my dear husband prayed with me and asked that the Lord might encourage me in this wait.
Tomorrow will be eight months of waiting. Folks...you could say we are eight months pregnant...and the anticipation of seeing the faces of our children somedays is just so powerful. Yet, in the world of adoption there is no due date and so we must keep up hope that the Lord has not forgotten us! A blind hope. Not unlike our hope of seeing our Lord's face someday. We anticipate something that we have not an actual day marked on a calendar. But yet are so confident will come!
So today I went out grocery shopping and I was leaving the self check-out line, wheeling the cart around and I notice a woman standing in my path. She catches my attention and says, "I just want to encourage you to keep close to the Lord and to keep loving Him." I was quite astonished at this and managed a "thank-you" and kept walking out the door. Tears once again threatened to escape. I couldn't believe it. Who was this woman and why did she single me out to say this to? What does she know of me and even more...how would she know if I even believed in the Lord? But I realized that doesn't matter. Don't try to analyze the situation. Take it for what it is. Direct encouragement from my Lord. Don't give up believing. Don't give up having faith that He is there and knows our children and where they are right now. More importantly, don't let my discouragement keep me from loving my Lord and from talking to Him.
It may not mean much and I wish I could have let that woman know how she encouraged me today. I am thankful that God does let us know He is there, caring for us!
