There Are More

I've laid low on the orphan front these last few months since bringing home the new kid. I stopped reading blogs about orphans or adoption, stopped following the adoptions of other families, stopped contributing to those causes. Just dropped out.

I admit adoption was tougher than I anticipated. He's not difficult to love or get along with, but just adding another person, along with all of his appointments and dirty diapers, into the chaos of our lives was challenging. 

Having accomplished what we set off to do made me feel a bit finished with all the advocacy. And, honestly, who had time for all of that thinking? I was just trying to keep my head above water. Pride played a part, too, I'm sure. It usually does. It seemed presumptuous of me to suggest that others should do as I was, given that I wasn't doing it all that well. 

But the other night, as I was rolling over in bed thinking about how grateful I am to have him, God spoke. It was almost audible so clearly I heard it in my heart. My breath was taken from me as this thought leapt into the center of my brain.

There are more.

I sat up. What? As realization dawned...

Oh God, there are more!

As I watch this child blossom in the love of family, as I see even his skin transform from good nutrition, as I look at the devotion he has for his daddy, I remember. 

There are more. Thousands of them. No, millions of them. Orphaned, abandoned, rejected.

Alone.

My boy is not special. He is funny and quirky and delightful...and special to me, but EVERY child has the potential to be funny and quirky and delightful and special to the people who love them!

Every orphan has that potential...all of them.

I get lulled into complacency on this cruise ship called America. I begin to think that my next vacation or how much sleep I'm getting or where to find the best local coffee is real life. 

But it's not. 

If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life.  And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul in the process? Is anything worth more than your soul? Matthew 16:25-26 

If I live for myself, I'll lose my soul.  Real life is gained when we give ourselves away. How could I forget those we left behind?

There are children without homes. Children who have never experienced love and have probably lived their whole lives without experiencing a kind word or gentle touch. Children whose care is a paycheck to someone, if they get any care at all. Many of them will die from neglect, starvation, or lack of medical care. 

And these children could blossom if they could just find someone who will give a damn about them. 

Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to death; don't stand back and let them die. Don't try to avoid responsibility by saying you didn't know about it. For God knows all hearts, and he sees you. He keeps watch over your soul, and he knows you knew! And he will judge all people according to what they have done. Proverbs 24:11-12

 There are more. So, so many more.