Bittersweet day

Today I was watching our little Ukrainian visitor, V, play with my 7yo daughter, Lauren. They were playing in the sprinkler and the blow up pool in our back yard. Both of the children were having a blast - laughing so hard.

As I watched them I began to chuckle and then laugh, and then my laughter turned to tears as I thought about V's future. One child, was an orphan and one child is still an orphan. I tell my kids all the time that life isn't fair - but it me today how much it really isn't.

I know deep down that God loves V as much as he loves Lauren. He wants no less for him than what He wants for her....Tonight V asked to stay up for 5 more minutes to read the Russian Bible that was a gift to my girls. He smiled, kissed the book and began to read. I am not sure what he read but I picked the story that had pictures of children around Jesus. I said that I love Jesus and he smiled and said he did too.

I want so much for this little boy to find a family that will help him to grow up to be the Godly man that God wants him to be. But what can I do? There are so many people that are unwilling to step out in faith to help the children that God loves. The cost - too high, the trip - too long, too....... the list goes on. I love the quote that Tom Davis uses in his book RED LETTERS: Living A Faith That Bleeds. "Sometimes I get discouraged when I think of the magnitude of need in our world and then see how many Christ-followers remain stuck to their chairs. I am heartbroken when I hear the ROARING SILENCE of a church unwilling to speak up for the voiceless masses."

It is a great book and I would highly recommend it. A sad statement about the church. Another observation I have made in the past few years is that it is the people that have the least that are willing to spend the most to help others. Most of my families that I have helped to adopt have an income in the range of $40-75,000. There have been some with higher incomes, but without a doubt the majority have little to spare but are willing. What does that say about us?

So - my point was that today was bittersweet. I had the opportunity to bring joy and laughter to one of the children that God claims as his, watching a former Ukrainian orphan play with present-day Ukrainian orphan. They both laughed and had a great time. Next month, the former orphan will still be tucked in bed by me - but who will listen to the present-day orphan read his bible? Tuck him in to bed, teach him about Jesus?

Please God - let someone....