Upon walking across the street, we noticed another baby frog
at the curb. The fingernail sized creature seemed to be trying his best to get from the creek on one side of the street, now to the wetlands on the other, but was failing miserably. I was impressed by my kids gentle coaxing and then
their careful steps when the realized there were baby frogs about every 6-12
inches along the curb, all trying to get up and over it. With Timothy leading
the charge, thus began our mission.
So four kids (including a neighbor) and I methodically
worked our way down the street.
“Here’s one!” “I found another one!” “This one is weally hoppy!” (that was Annie).
“Here’s one!” “I found another one!” “This one is weally hoppy!” (that was Annie).
Every once in a while we’d find a strong one that actually made
it up the side on his own. We all cheered! But we also found many discolored,
lifeless toads at the corner of the curb who never quite made it and the sun had
taken its toll. After about 45 minutes of this, I realized we needed to get
back to the house so we could make it to our next commitment for the day. We
had worked our way down the street quite a good distance and I told them we had
to turn around. On the return trip, we noticed toads we had missed before and
helped them up. However, that was taking a bit of time too, and I told them all
we needed to hustle a little bit more. A few kids ran up ahead. But Jude lingered
behind and cried out from the back “Guys! You’re going past all these!” I could
hear the anguish in his sweet voice. It was so hard for him to walk away from
those he knew needed help. I empathized because already I was sensing the
analogy God was speaking to me. I said to Jude “We can’t save every one, honey.
We can only help some of them and ask God to take care of them.”
Pong. He’s the one for us. It’s so clear. I’m so thankful. I
smile every time I glance at his picture already on our wall. He’s the one
stuck at the curb, just needing someone to lift him up so he can have a chance
to thrive. I feel seriously privileged that within a few months he could be our
son. It feels so huge and yet so small at the same time.
As we were walking back home Annie shouted “I wish I could
keep ALL the fwogs in the whole woold…and then my hands would be weally big!” I
heard God’s voice again in both her desire and her declaration that it would
take really big hands to hold all those frogs J
I know deeply that the only One who has hands big enough to hold all the
children is the One I need to release them to. We are not the Savior of the
orphans. He is.
So, Jesus Christ is the Savior. Acknowledge and move on? Not
quite. To me, that’s the baseline. To remember God’s role. To trust Him in His
role and let Him take it, because goodness knows it’s too heavy for me or any
of us to carry. His Spirit is the one to open hearts to consider, move forward
and ultimately offer their unconditional patience and love to a child who needs
it. And He’s also the One responsible to be faithful to those who never do find
a family. Starting from that place….I continue to be compelled to advocate for
these kids.
Currently, I am going to ask you to pray for both Pong and
also two of his little buddies. There was a group of toddlers that have pretty
much grown up together as ‘brothers’ in the orphanage. A few have found homes
already, but there are two that have burdened my heart as they haven’t. My bold
request is to ask Jesus with me, that these two darling 3 year olds would find
a family soon…and in the Twin Cities! Sometimes it’s hard for me to ask for
specific prayers, because I don’t want God to “lose face” if He decides to respond
with a different outcome. But, that’s up to Him. Again, knowing He can fully protect
His own reputation, I want to live into His request to petition His heart with
what is on mine.
The boys have been named “Yeager” and “Henry” by our agency
(for simplicity) and I think it would be such an amazing blessing if Pong,
Yeager and Henry could grow up in the same area, with the potential for a friendship
that could bless them for years to come. They will have lost so many links to
their past. If they had each other, maybe they can stay linked to each other. I
found this prayer many years ago by Rodney Bennet and it fits as an
intercession for Pong, Yeager, Henry and all those in need of His Father love.
Seems like a good place to start….
Gentle Jesus, King of
Kings, yet the Lord of little things.
Though but young and
small I be, from Thy glory smile on me.
“I will not leave you comfortless; I will
come to you” – Jesus
(John
14:18)
No significant updates. As of now, we are full on in “wait” mode. A good time to pray.
Blessings on your week!
Blessings on your week!
Awesome story and great prayer request! Praying...
ReplyDeleteYou are a beautiful writer! I can take that metaphor and apply it to my role as a teacher. I do have the capacity to touch many lives as a classroom teacher, but I need to remember that I can only do so much and that ultimately I have to trust in a power greater than myself to lift my students who face so many obstacles into safety!
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