Day 17: Taste and See that the Lord is GOOD!
I've got about a weeks worth of blog topics, but today I will stick with the little miracle of love! If you've been through much or maybe had everything taken from you, if you have loved and lost over again, if you have been betrayed by the ones who are supposed to care for you, if you have been left out if you weren't the fastest in line, on and on, it's quite humanly reasonable to not trust anymore.
Many many of the difficulties adoptive parents have experienced isn't children's behaviors, but the one's who hurt the children to begin with. And that can be a multitude of factors. So when you see a child who hoards, who steals, who lies, who lashes out first, it's not an evil child you are seeing. It's a child who has been neglected, who was stolen from, who was lied to and who was hurt. This really isn't the topic of today's post but it sets up for you why what I am about to share is a miracle.
Today Maxim didn't hover over his snack. Today Maxim drank his juice in sips and returned it to the table. Big deal! Yeah, actually, it is!
He trusted that there would more good to come. He trusted that he didn't have to shove it in or ELSE. He is learning to enjoy food with those he loves and TRUSTS! I made a little video so you could see him pace himself and for me to remember as a real triumph. You will have to see it on my FB page though.
While I was taping the video of Maxim and Artyom having their snack, I was able to catch footage of Artyom opening the snack and giving more to Maxim when he asked for it. The really awesome thing about that is Artyom not only is missing feet and has a cleft palate but his hands don't work like ours either. This kid I believe, has demonstrated more faith and determination to the others around him than he will ever know. The grace upon his life makes me want to cry, but then it just makes me want to be a better person. He has strengthened my faith.
Today I handed out more mirrors to children. I know very few words in Russian but because "Beautiful" says beautiful all the time, they know that word. :o) So as we held those mirrors and listened to worship music I spoke over each of them their beauty and preciousness in Christ Jesus. I point to heaven, hold their faces and smile.
By the way, some of the orphans I get to love on are in their 50's.
I'm amazed at how much God has been able to do with few words. Peace shows up, love abounds, and for our time together coloring, drawing, singing, SWEETNESS rests there. Ya know, it's pretty easy to love and show kindness for short periods of time when under pressure. You know that your time will be up soon so you "hold on." Well, what has amazed me is that there is an abundance of love stored up in hearts and they are looking for opportunities to pour it out. These "children" have seen only 3 adoptions now in the last 6 decades of this institution and yet, HOPE lives. If that isn't God, I don't know what is. The hope of freedom still thrives in many hearts here. Maxim's is being realized. Artyom, Beautiful and some other children are witnessing his miracle right before their very eyes and they are holding on to the hope that one day THEIRs will arrive.
Artyom took this photo as we were finishing up for the day:
For many children here, their hope is fading. Perhaps this has been the most painful part to see. They are beginning to shut off in their pain and sorrow and many are physically in great pain. If you can remember back to the post of the boy with the slippers. He needs medical help that isn't available here. I am praying for a family for him but even more I am praying that the body of Christ would be moved to financially support medical treatment for him. He has spent his entire life in "the splits." He has great joy and smiles everytime he sees me. "Priviet, what is your name?" he says. He asks me in English. He's a charmer.
I have seen the goodness of God here. I have been moved and touched in deeper ways than I knew. I love God more. My hunger and thirst for Him has grown and I taste and see that HE IS A GOOD GOD who has sent his son Jesus to demonstrate His great love for us that we might live our lives that reveals that GOODNESS to the world who has not yet met Him.
"You my brothers were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge sinful nature; rather serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: Love your neighbor as yourself. If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other." Galatians 5:13-15
"I the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness." Isaiah 42:6-7
Many many of the difficulties adoptive parents have experienced isn't children's behaviors, but the one's who hurt the children to begin with. And that can be a multitude of factors. So when you see a child who hoards, who steals, who lies, who lashes out first, it's not an evil child you are seeing. It's a child who has been neglected, who was stolen from, who was lied to and who was hurt. This really isn't the topic of today's post but it sets up for you why what I am about to share is a miracle.
Today Maxim didn't hover over his snack. Today Maxim drank his juice in sips and returned it to the table. Big deal! Yeah, actually, it is!
He trusted that there would more good to come. He trusted that he didn't have to shove it in or ELSE. He is learning to enjoy food with those he loves and TRUSTS! I made a little video so you could see him pace himself and for me to remember as a real triumph. You will have to see it on my FB page though.
While I was taping the video of Maxim and Artyom having their snack, I was able to catch footage of Artyom opening the snack and giving more to Maxim when he asked for it. The really awesome thing about that is Artyom not only is missing feet and has a cleft palate but his hands don't work like ours either. This kid I believe, has demonstrated more faith and determination to the others around him than he will ever know. The grace upon his life makes me want to cry, but then it just makes me want to be a better person. He has strengthened my faith.
Today I handed out more mirrors to children. I know very few words in Russian but because "Beautiful" says beautiful all the time, they know that word. :o) So as we held those mirrors and listened to worship music I spoke over each of them their beauty and preciousness in Christ Jesus. I point to heaven, hold their faces and smile.
By the way, some of the orphans I get to love on are in their 50's.
I'm amazed at how much God has been able to do with few words. Peace shows up, love abounds, and for our time together coloring, drawing, singing, SWEETNESS rests there. Ya know, it's pretty easy to love and show kindness for short periods of time when under pressure. You know that your time will be up soon so you "hold on." Well, what has amazed me is that there is an abundance of love stored up in hearts and they are looking for opportunities to pour it out. These "children" have seen only 3 adoptions now in the last 6 decades of this institution and yet, HOPE lives. If that isn't God, I don't know what is. The hope of freedom still thrives in many hearts here. Maxim's is being realized. Artyom, Beautiful and some other children are witnessing his miracle right before their very eyes and they are holding on to the hope that one day THEIRs will arrive.
Artyom took this photo as we were finishing up for the day:
For many children here, their hope is fading. Perhaps this has been the most painful part to see. They are beginning to shut off in their pain and sorrow and many are physically in great pain. If you can remember back to the post of the boy with the slippers. He needs medical help that isn't available here. I am praying for a family for him but even more I am praying that the body of Christ would be moved to financially support medical treatment for him. He has spent his entire life in "the splits." He has great joy and smiles everytime he sees me. "Priviet, what is your name?" he says. He asks me in English. He's a charmer.
I have seen the goodness of God here. I have been moved and touched in deeper ways than I knew. I love God more. My hunger and thirst for Him has grown and I taste and see that HE IS A GOOD GOD who has sent his son Jesus to demonstrate His great love for us that we might live our lives that reveals that GOODNESS to the world who has not yet met Him.
"You my brothers were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge sinful nature; rather serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: Love your neighbor as yourself. If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other." Galatians 5:13-15
"I the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness." Isaiah 42:6-7
Comments
So glad to read another update about your incredible journey. I began reading your blog several months ago when I noticed that you live in Rogers, my parents live in Fayetteville. I have been changed by your story in a way that encourages my soul like none other. I have learned so much about adoption from your writing and feel the Lord tugging on my heart. I will continue to check your blog for updates and I consider it a privilege to pray for your family.
God bless,
Courtney Connelly from Tulsa
Actually as I read this, I had thoughts of "HOW can I move there?" "I will give up all I have to physically move there and live near the orphanage...near enough that I could roll in my wheelchair, every day, to be able to sit amongst these orphans."
I Love You, Tina...for allowing myself and others to see and experience the true, true Beauty of these angels. In the worlds eyes, they are unwanted, broken, not worthy of love. But, I see ALL that they really ARE! HIS Children. And, I feel some Peace in my Heart to know that I will spend Eternity with them.