This post has been written in my head for over a year and it is just time to write it ... The problem is I am truly writing it to the choir, but my heart has been aching lately and I need to cleanse my heart ...
I will never forget bringing Emily home (our first adopted angel) ... She was breathe taking, smiling, happy, attached easily, and simply adjusted with ease ... The following were comments that I received daily .... "Oh, if I could adopt an EMILY, then I would adopt tomorrow," "If I knew I could get an EMILY then I would start the paperwork," "Why don't you just give me her and you can go back and adopt again," or "If could adopt one that looked just like EMILY then I would do it." ... I don't think any of these people were trying to be cruel or insensitive, but the words are exactly what is wrong with our culture ... Adopting is not a beauty contest, a status symbol, or something to do - Adoption is a call from the Lord ...
My precious Maggie came home with more than one issue to deal with and I have aged, gained weight, lost hundreds of hours of sleep, and been drained of every ounce of grace in my body, but the joy of obeying the Lord is priceless ... The miracle of watching her heal ... The joy of being called this precious angel's mother is a gift from the Lord because I was obedient ... Maggie has been the one to draw our family closer to the FATHER because she helps us to focus on His will for our life and not people expectations of us, societies pressures to fit in, or the crazy media standards... She may not smile at a stranger, run into your arms and make you feel all warm and fuzzy or even look you in the eye, but if you take the time to get to know her and understand her journey, then you will grow as a person, you will learn more about the Lord, and you will receive the true gift of trust that you hear in her laugh and giggle !!!
I know many people right now considering adopting a SN angel and I want to encourage you to look deep into the FATHER's heart and find His will for you ... In the beginning, I was the one time trying to figure out what SN could I handle and that is seriously a joke ... I can't handle anything, but with the Lord's strength, grace, and love, I CAN DO ALL THINGS !!!
When we started the adoption process again to Uganda for a son and a daughter we marked the box healthy because again we felt our hands were full with all that Maggie needed (and honestly scared) and when the call came and our precious son was almost completely deaf and very delayed, the answer came quick... He said in His quiet still voice "Will you do this WITH ME" .... God was calling us again to walk with Him ... How could we say no ... Now we are literally overjoyed to be CHOSEN again to parent a SN angel ... We are falling in love daily with our son and daughter waiting for us in Uganda !
I tell you today that some of our most precious prayer time is spent praying for the special needs angels in our life ... Josie Love (HIV +, just learned to walk, and can't see very well @ 4 yrs old), Abe (missing his frontal brain lobe and can barely move or communicate), and Liam (trapped within himself and struggling daily to cope ) ... These are just a few of the children, who bless us ... If you think their days are easy or a picnic then think again, but they understand the honor it is to parent their children ... Our children teach us of the Father's love ... Our children teach us of the Father's creative powers ... Our chidren teach us of the Father's healing !!! THEY ARE SURVIVORS and we could learn a lot about who our heavenly Father is by loving them, getting to know them, praying for them, and showing others that this is not a sacrifice, but our privilege ... Remember a sacrifice is giving up something you need for NO gain !!! I receive more each day than I deserve from my precious daughter ... Just the look in her eyes that she now knows she is safe and loved is sometimes more than my heart can handle ... Thank You Maggie !!!
So my prayer is that more people will find their path to a SN angel and see into the face of God !!!
Blessings, Gwen
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Just beautiful, Gwen. Your family and sweet Maggie is such an inspiration!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is a WONDERFUL and HONEST post! Can I repost on my blog? As the Lord has been stirring our hearts toward a special needs child or children...I couldn't agree more that adoption is a calling from the Lord (at least it is for our family) BLESSINGS!
ReplyDeleteGwen, I am following all of your stories and I pray for you all daily. I wonder what God has in store for us! There is a reason I "hooked up" with you--definitley an inspiration.
ReplyDeleteSweet tears and "amens" as I read your post, Gwen.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds to me like you're saying this journey of adoption is not about us....and BINGO! It's not!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you sister.
Your Maggie and so many other children are inspirations....
Gwen, what a beautiful, heartfelt and TRUE post! Thank you for sharing what a blessing our SN children are. We certainly do not deserve the favor the Father bestows upon us, and yet He is so faithful!
ReplyDeleteGwen you are truly an inspiration to many and an instrument that God is using to give hope to the least of these, your obedience is something I truly admire. I know in my the heart the Lord is calling us adopt SN and I'm hope to be starting the process soon. Thank you for sharing your beautiful story.
ReplyDeleteYes yes and AMEN!!! It's true Gwen. It's all true. WE are the ones to receive the greatest blessings!
ReplyDeleteGwen,
ReplyDeleteYou continue to inspire me, and challenge me to live with all the courage and faith that come through walking WITH GOd. Thank you. Again.
Abe gives us so much more than we give him. Love you friend for this post, for loving us well and for lifting us up.
ReplyDeleteOH, If I could just ADOPT a Maggie!
ReplyDeleteThanks for continuing to pray!
Love & Miss You!!!
Love & Blessings from Hong Kong,
Kim
Beautiful post!! We are about ready to embark on our first SN adoption so posts like these only encourage me farther in that process!! Thank you!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a BEAUTIFUL post! Your words are true, and we have experienced some of those same comments. If everyone would focus on Christ instead of what child they will be Blessed to raise.....I think the whole world would be AMAZED at the GIFTS GOD has given us all!
ReplyDeleteHow I LOVE your posts Gwen!! You inspire me to chase after Him more... and to dig deep into HIS heart for the orphan!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing what He obviously laid on your heart :)
Thank you so much for such an honest and touching post!
ReplyDeleteGod's blessings,
Sarah :D
So well said. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, well said. Amen!!
ReplyDeleteGwen, Thanks for sharing. We have a SN son ourselves and sometimes people wonder why we "messed up" our easy life and traded it for a life with challenges. But I must agree that this journey has brought us more joy than heartache, more blessings than sacrifices.
ReplyDeleteEveryone should have a Daniel (my son), a Maggie, a Josie-Love, . . . in their family to understand God's goodness. Like I'm sure many others have, I've often seen your courageous Maggie's sweet face on your blog and thought "I want to adopt a Maggie!"
Blessings,
Kathie
Mrs. O
ReplyDeleteI have 2 special needs kids. CoCo has dwarfism and People say things about how cute Coleman is and they want to take his picture, etc... Carter who has asburgers, is tall and OCDish. He has the most precious disposition. I want a fair life for both of them, but life doen't seem to have that in the cards for my two. I understand.