Bathed in Prayer

Two years ago we were frantically chasing papers to cross the ocean for a little boy whose picture had rocked our world.

Two years ago we were begging prayers from anyone we could find for him.

Two years ago our hearts were heavy and burdened for a little boy who had been transferred to a mental institute.

Two years ago we talked to everyone. Pressing his picture into their hands.  Begging them to put it on their refrigerator.  Imploring them to pray.

Pray for Aaron.

Pray for the little boy in the picture who was across the ocean and lost.

Pray that though he was down in the pit, facing the lions, that God would preserve him.

We begged.  We cried.  We shared his story wherever we went.

We handed out hundreds and hundreds of pictures.

To friends. To strangers.  Everywhere we went.

And God in His mercy heard those prayers. 

The first day we met him.... The first time his face broke into a smile.... we knew that God had answered those prayers.

Because our boy didn't just smile.

He burst into laughter.

On that first day. 

In the midst of such sorrow all around him.

He laughed.

Yes - he had deep deep scars.  Yes. 

But he was not broken. 

And two years later - we praise God for His mercy.

For His grace to our little son.

Our little boy who faced the lions but was not consumed. 

Two years ago we begged for prayers for our son.

And God heard.  And God answered.

When he came home, we assumed that the prayers had stopped.  His picture removed from refrigerators across the country. 

He was home.

End of story.

But this past weekend, I discovered that for two years our son, our precious son, has been bathed in prayer.

One family.  They didn't have access to our blog.  They didn't have our e-mail. 

All they had was a picture on their refrigerator of one little smiling boy in a striped shirt. 

Given to them by me at the Homeschooling Convention in North Carolina.

So faithfully they prayed.  EVERY DAY.  For the last two years they have prayed, and wondered, and hoped.  For two years they have lifted our son to the throne.

They bathed our Aaron in prayer.

When the convention opened, they came running to my booth... mother and daughter... running... wondering... hoping... begging for news of the little boy...  The little boy on their refrigerator.

I stood in shock and awe. 

I wanted to burst into tears right there on the Convention floor.

Hold them both in my arms.  

Thank them over and over and over again.

The love, compassion, concern and care for the orphan was evident in their eyes, their hearts. 

Oh for the church to be more like these two warriors. 

Praying without ceasing for the Least of These. They KNEW about adoption.  Mother. Daughter.  A relationship born not of birth but of choice and love and sacrifice.  Understanding the power of prayer.  Understanding the agony of the parent as they wait to cross the ocean.  Understanding what it means to be an orphan.

They knew so they prayed.

Lifting our little Aaron to the throne.

Day after day.

How sweet to know.  How precious to see.

Would that the church would step up and be to the orphan as this family has been to Aaron.

Praying without ceasing.  

Lifting our little guy to the throne......

Causing tears to leak from my eyes even as I write these words....

THANKS BE TO GOD.  THANKS BE TO  GOD!

How precious are the prayers of the saints to the Father of the Fatherless.

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The winner of the BiblioPlan e-reader is......JAMIE... Our journey to Eli blog!!!  Woo Hoo... Jamie is also adopting this precious treasure and they still need to raise money for their adoption BUT THEY GIVE... OVER AND OVER THEY GIVE.  

Someone want to give back to them???  Bless them for blessing the Jenks??  

Their grant account is HERE.