Fatherless Friday

I watched them as they walked up and down the aisles in Sam's Club yesterday.

A mother and her child.  

The mother pushing the cart in the store, shopping for needed groceries, but her real focus was on her precious little girl sitting in the shopping cart seat.

A mother and her child.

The cooing, giggling, kissing.  The focus of the mom on her little one.  The  focus of the little one on her mommy.   

I watched them as I shopped.  I listened.  I smiled.   I remembered when my boys were little.  The simple pleasure of loving on your child while pushing a shopping cart.

I watched them and deep down I ached.

I ached for all the lost moments with Aaron.  I ached that I never cooed at him as he happily rode in the grocery cart.  I never had  the opportunity to hear his baby giggle or feel his hands reach up as he rode along.  I ached for Aaron.  For me.  For that loss.

I ached too as I thought of all the babes.  All the precious ones languishing in their cribs.  All the children who  have missed out on the simple pleasure of having a mommy focused completely on them as they happily rode in a shopping cart.  Such a simple pleasure.  Lost.  Lost for so many.

I ached for Rita.

  

A beautiful little girl who could be Aaron's twin.  She has arthrogryposis just like him.  Where is her Mama? She is soon heading for transfer to AN ADULT MENTAL INSTITUTE unless someone goes and gets her. GOD FORBID!

I grieved for Victoria.

The beautiful princess behind the shaved head!

 

How much longer LORD????  She waits.  Day after day.  Week after week.  Month after month.  Year after year.  Victoria.  Who will love you?  Who will cross the ocean for you?  She too has arthrogryposis. Oh if only people could see past that label!!

I mourned for Emmitt.

 

Born in the same year as my Elijah but stuck in a crib.  STUCK IN A CRIB.  Precious Emmitt.  Who will call you son?

And Aubree.

Another BEAUTIFUL girl with arthrogryposis.  Such potential.  Yet confined.  

Who will coo over these babes?  Who will take pleasure in their accomplishments, cheer them on, praise them?  Who?  

I grieve for them.  I grieve at their loss as they continue to wait for someone to FIND them.  

None of them will ever leave institutional life unless they are adopted. That is the sad reality.

I grieve.

I pray.

I hope.

I hope that by advocating, sharing their pictures, being their voice, that someone out there will SEE them.  

Dear Lord.

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P.S. - There is a bag-a-thon happening for Victoria that is chock full of cool items to bid on... all proceeds will go Victoria's grant account! - CLICK HERE to get to the auction, scroll down and start bidding!!)