Revised from last year .... December 29.... in memory of December 29, 2009....
Just a whisper. A Holy Spirit breathed whisper. A longing. A stirring that began years before but began to grow louder and more insistent as time passed. Adoption. One day we said. One day. Later. Too busy now. Our days too full. Not enough money. Not enough time. Later. Much later. When the boys are gone. When we finish our current projects. When our bank account is above 0. Another day. Not today.
All good arguments but the whisper stayed. The stirrings continued. The voice wasn't silenced. The God-ordained encounters with those who had gone before kept happening. Consider. Just consider. Pray. But... but...no... can't... not.... all the arguments. Mental gymnastics. The money God. Where? It can't work. Our boys. It's crazy. We are broke. Our business is tumbling down. We are consumed with our side projects. Our schedule is insane. Dear Lord - it's just not the right time.
Louder. No longer a stirring but a wave. A push. An emptiness. A realization that we lacked. Something. Someone. Our lives were full of nothing. Crazy chasing after useless dreams. Circling - protecting our boys from what? Our spiritual lives - Church - worship - tithing - going through the motions. For what? Our passion gone. Realization of our empty cup.
Then a picture. A smiling face. A helpless child. The Holy Spirit whisper becomes a scream.
GO GET HIM. HE'S YOURS.
This child. In that country. GO. Now. Say yes. Despite the bank account. Despite the schedule. Despite the arguments. Despite it all. GO.
Two years later. Our 'whisper' celebrating Christmas with us. Our son. Our child. Our little brother. Ours. But more than Ours - God's. His child. His son. His treasure that He called out of darkness. To our family.
Aaron.
December 29, 2009 - two year ago - just a whisper in our hearts. I'm so grateful we listened.
I am SO grateful that you listened too!
ReplyDeleteUgh the whisper. I remember the moment it started and I remember watching all those little love letters from God flood our lives. Little bits and pieces come together to create the whole that is our adoption story. Just waiting for our amazing God to finish the next chapter and praying the part where a little girl is place in my arms is in it!
ReplyDeleteBrooke
www.TheAnnessaFamily.com
I love how God works. He sees the end from the beginning. Sometimes I think about what I was up to last year at this time and I am so grateful for that whisper too.
ReplyDeleteWhat a blessing Aaron is to many people!!
Love when we listen to that whisper! What blessings we receive.
ReplyDeleteI was just getting ready to do a blog post on this and talk about how this and seeing Carlene's picture one year ago today made me think we could be her family. Love that you re-posted it. Hopefully you won't mind that I will be attaching a link to it since it played such a vital part in our decision.
ReplyDeleteKatrina
Carlene's soon to be momma :)
www.operationorphannomore.blogspot.com
Every time you write I cry my eyes out like a baby! He is just too cute...I love his smiling face! He seems like such a happy child. God has truly blessed you.
ReplyDeleteThank you for opening up your home for public view for those of us preparing to embark on this journey ourselves. It is so encouraging.
Thank you for listening Julia. Thank you for sharing your heart, and your family, and Aaron with us. Thank you for being the voice for so many. Love you!
ReplyDeleteOh, I felt this one. You spoke from my heart. We heard the same whisper. Gave the same excuses, saw a similar smile and were told to go. He's been home two months.
ReplyDeleteSo beautifully written!! I feel the need to share this post (with your permission), as a reminder to why we do what we do...because the LORD calls us to.
ReplyDeleteShare away Michelle!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! (story and boy :) praise God... many blessings to your family in the New Year and grace to walk in the victory you have in Him :D
ReplyDelete1 Cor. 15:56-57