Little Lost Lamb

 "His eyes cross badly, his teeth are rotten, he cannot bear his own weight, he smelled horrible.....BUT he is PERFECT!!!"

A Mama holding her little one for the first time.  The smell so horrid that she gags when he is placed in her arms.

Yet to her - he is perfect.

Chosen.

Loved.

Cherished.

Wanted.

Already claimed as her son.

What a beautiful picture of love in action.  

Despite the distended belly and the rotten teeth and the overwhelming smell - he is deemed perfect.  

Rob and I sat here and choked back tears as we read their blog this morning.  We remembered sitting with them last year on the steps in the Capital of that country.  Both of our families agreeing we would never ever cross that ocean again.  It was too hard and we just wanted to get through the process and go home.  But God called them back.  He called them back.  We marvel at this dear family who made their decision to get this little guy based on who needed rescue the most.  Their choice wasn't based on a picture - their love wasn't dependent upon ability.  Their choice was based on the desperate need of the little five year old in their arms who faced transfer any day and who would not have survived.  

"He will need immediate medical care...like straight from the airport to the hospital."

They crossed the ocean for him.  They took out loans and sacrificed earthly pleasure to get him.  A little lost foul-smelling neglected boy.  Of little value to the rest of the world but considered a priceless treasure to the Carmichaels.

Luke 15: 3-7 Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’  I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent."

Little lost lamb... You are a beautiful demonstration of the love God has lavishly bestowed upon each of us.

Dirty, sinful, sick and lost human beings that we are.... He gave His ALL for us.

 I John 3: 16:  "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us."

 I John 4: 9-10 "God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. "