Would you consider yourself lucky if you watched one of your parents die before you reached your first birthday? Would you consider yourself lucky if you were plagued with so many intestinal parasites that you didn't want to eat? (Oh, and when you did eat, you had raging diarrhea.) Would you think yourself lucky if you were taken to strange people in a strange building, and left there while the only person you knew and depended on loved you so much that he/she left you in the hands of others and walked away forever?
Okay, so I'm going to probably offend some people who have said this to me, but this is my blog, so I can write whatever I want.
Well meaning people tell me all the time, "Oh, she is so lucky." (obviously, in reference to my adopted daughter) So, what do I say? A lot of the time I take the easy way out, and I say nothing. I just smile a fake, little smile. Inside my head, though, there are silent screams saying, "NO SHE'S NOT!!! HOW CAN YOU THINK THAT?!" So, I remind myself to take a step back, and think to myself, "I have a different perspective. I've been there. I've seen the sad, scared faces of these orphans, and they don't look like they feel lucky." I know what these well-meaning people are meaning, but it still makes me cringe. They believe our daughter is lucky to be with us. I believe WE are lucky that God has placed His child with us to raise and love and adore. Oh, and she is definitely adored!!! BUT...WE are the lucky ones.
The simple truth is that there are 5 million orphans in Ethiopia alone. They need families that can love and adore them. BUT, they have already lost families that loved them. They have been scared and alone and hungry. They have suffered immeasurable loss and grief at a very young age.
The only way to change this is to go straight to the root of the problem. Yes, we need to care for the orphans. You can turn to the Bible and find countless places that God demands us to do just that. But, if we only care for the orphans, what happens? Well, what happens is we continue to find the number of orphans worldwide rising.
Now, we are also told to care for the widows and the poor. So, it makes sense that while we are caring for these children who are already orphans, we need to be caring for these women who desperately need help. They want to care for their children. They love and adore them. They work, often going hungry themselves, to take care of their families. BUT, it isn't enough. They can't do it alone. They didn't choose to be poor, but we can choose to make a difference in their lives. Every time we do, we ARE helping the orphans because
we are providing families with ways to keep their children from becoming orphans.
I did not write this post with the purpose of endorsing a non-profit organization. BUT....it would seem unfinished if I didn't point out that there are organizations out there doing just this.
Because Every Mother Matters supports women in Ethiopia by providing them with financial support, medical check ups and builds relationships that cross continents. They provide birthing kits to women in areas that have nothing to aid women in childbirth. The list goes on...I can not sit idly by and watch from a distance what is happening to these beautiful, joyful people. I hope that this post has struck a chord somewhere in you, urging you to make a difference in the life of someone. Anyone. Yes, I believe God sets the lonely in families. If we did what was asked of us, would there be so many that are lonely?
2nd week home playing in her p.j.'s. Just getting strong enough to push things around.
6 months home, and look at those p.j.'s! Now she is strong enough to run, jump and push her brothers and sister around. :) Love it! (Sorry the picture is sideways. Technology isn't always my friend.)
