The sun was shining and the kids were all playing in the yard. The play-set was full and there was a line at the swings for the next rider. The grass was freshly painted green by the coming of Spring and to prove it's durability came two beautiful children trampling on it from around the corner. The children laughed and giggled with excitement as their daddy was chasing them. Daddy was smiling so big and hunched over running after the children with that "I'm gonna get you" face like only daddy's can do. The kids at the play set caught onto the excitement of the chase and yelled, "Run Tarik and Elsie!"
I'm tearing up as I type this to recall this dream I had. You see, Tarik and Elsa are the names for the two children we haven't even met. They are somewhere in Ethiopia waiting for arms to hold them, brothers and sisters to play with, and daddy to chase them across the lawn. We love them so much and haven't even seen their faces or know their ages, but I know they are meant for us.
As I think about Mother's Day I remember a song that Todd and I wrote and then sang for our wonderful home church in the days we lived in Hagerstown. I was pregnant with our first child, Quinn, and due with her in August. We sang this song with hopes and dreams of being parents. And with no clue of what that really meant or how that really changes your life. I chuckle that we even 'thought' we knew what parenting was all about because as you may know, it does change your life and brings a love and experiences that are unique to the role.
The lyrics had come to me so clearly that I pulled off the side of the road to write them down. That Sunday the pastor's message was of the same theme of what our song spoke of. A God thing. And after 10 years, I still hold that day dear to my heart. This is part of the song that I can recall.
"A mother's love is meant to be strong when you're not able
A mother's love is meant to be open arms.
For we've only got one breath.
A vapor in the wind
To show this love,
To hold this warm embrace."
I am so thankful for the joys of being a mother and being able to spend these precious days with our children. Time does go by so quickly and before I know it the kids will be all grown up. Too big for snuggles, too big for playing tent under the covers, and too big for back scratches and being lulled to sleep at night. I do treasure these days as they are only a vapor.
What breaks my heart about this mother's day though is realizing that the birth mother of Tarik and Elsa is letting go of her treasures. I don't know her story or the children's story yet either, but so many times out of a desperation that we can't even begin to imagine, a mother will release the rights to her dear children in the hopes that they will be accepted and loved in someone-else's arms. Her arms are weak and she knows their bellies are hungry and their bodies are sick and fragile to the conditions around them. She loves them so much that she will spare their life by letting them go. She is that desperate for help. If only she could keep them. I pray for her that if she is alive, that deep in her heart she will know that half way across the world, I will love her babies and care for them just as she so deeply could hope that another heart could. I pray for her as she misses them and may wonder daily about what the children may be doing, learning, and who they have become. I can't wrap my thoughts around the void in her life as she will continue to press on and struggle to survive in her world.
I pray that through child sponsorships, medical programs, relief efforts, humanitarian aid, widows help and ministries- that these families could stay together with assistance and get the helping hand that they need. As the number of orphans around the world increases daily, so do the broken hearts of the mothers who say good-bye to a child. These moms are the forgotten and overlooked statistic too.
So as I will enjoy my blessings on this Mother's Day I will also remember those moms who are struggling and I pray that they will find hope. If not here on earth, that they will know the eternal hope that Jesus brings through His saving grace.
Pray for the poor and oppressed, those who suffer from sickness and disease, abuse, addictions, the effects of war and fighting. And please, pray for the mothers all around the world that love so intensely that they release their own flesh and blood to the arms of a stranger who promises to care for their children as if they were their own.
Father to the fatherless, defender of widows-this is God, whose dwelling is holy, God places the lonely in families. Psalms 68:5-6
Psalms 10:14-17,18 "The helpless put their trust in you. You defend the orphans. Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them. You will bring justice to the orphans and the oppressed, so mere people can no longer terrify them."
I'm tearing up as I type this to recall this dream I had. You see, Tarik and Elsa are the names for the two children we haven't even met. They are somewhere in Ethiopia waiting for arms to hold them, brothers and sisters to play with, and daddy to chase them across the lawn. We love them so much and haven't even seen their faces or know their ages, but I know they are meant for us.
As I think about Mother's Day I remember a song that Todd and I wrote and then sang for our wonderful home church in the days we lived in Hagerstown. I was pregnant with our first child, Quinn, and due with her in August. We sang this song with hopes and dreams of being parents. And with no clue of what that really meant or how that really changes your life. I chuckle that we even 'thought' we knew what parenting was all about because as you may know, it does change your life and brings a love and experiences that are unique to the role.
The lyrics had come to me so clearly that I pulled off the side of the road to write them down. That Sunday the pastor's message was of the same theme of what our song spoke of. A God thing. And after 10 years, I still hold that day dear to my heart. This is part of the song that I can recall.
"A mother's love is meant to be strong when you're not able
A mother's love is meant to be open arms.
For we've only got one breath.
A vapor in the wind
To show this love,
To hold this warm embrace."
I am so thankful for the joys of being a mother and being able to spend these precious days with our children. Time does go by so quickly and before I know it the kids will be all grown up. Too big for snuggles, too big for playing tent under the covers, and too big for back scratches and being lulled to sleep at night. I do treasure these days as they are only a vapor.
What breaks my heart about this mother's day though is realizing that the birth mother of Tarik and Elsa is letting go of her treasures. I don't know her story or the children's story yet either, but so many times out of a desperation that we can't even begin to imagine, a mother will release the rights to her dear children in the hopes that they will be accepted and loved in someone-else's arms. Her arms are weak and she knows their bellies are hungry and their bodies are sick and fragile to the conditions around them. She loves them so much that she will spare their life by letting them go. She is that desperate for help. If only she could keep them. I pray for her that if she is alive, that deep in her heart she will know that half way across the world, I will love her babies and care for them just as she so deeply could hope that another heart could. I pray for her as she misses them and may wonder daily about what the children may be doing, learning, and who they have become. I can't wrap my thoughts around the void in her life as she will continue to press on and struggle to survive in her world.
I pray that through child sponsorships, medical programs, relief efforts, humanitarian aid, widows help and ministries- that these families could stay together with assistance and get the helping hand that they need. As the number of orphans around the world increases daily, so do the broken hearts of the mothers who say good-bye to a child. These moms are the forgotten and overlooked statistic too.
So as I will enjoy my blessings on this Mother's Day I will also remember those moms who are struggling and I pray that they will find hope. If not here on earth, that they will know the eternal hope that Jesus brings through His saving grace.
Pray for the poor and oppressed, those who suffer from sickness and disease, abuse, addictions, the effects of war and fighting. And please, pray for the mothers all around the world that love so intensely that they release their own flesh and blood to the arms of a stranger who promises to care for their children as if they were their own.
Father to the fatherless, defender of widows-this is God, whose dwelling is holy, God places the lonely in families. Psalms 68:5-6
Psalms 10:14-17,18 "The helpless put their trust in you. You defend the orphans. Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them. You will bring justice to the orphans and the oppressed, so mere people can no longer terrify them."
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