Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Our goal is not an easy life for our children.

We were so thankful to meet several families touched by Ethiopian adoption this past Saturday!

As I talked with a woman also with 3 children similar ages to mine who just recently received a referral for a toddler boy in Ethiopia, I asked her if they were taking any of their children with them to Ethiopia, and she said,

"It would be such a hard trip for them."

And I swallowed the words I was about to say, that we really wanted to take our two oldest kids with us to Ethiopia. I suddenly felt guilty for my desire to take my children on a "hard" trip.

It took a few minutes, but then I remembered, our goal is not an easy life for our children.

Traveling to Ethiopia they may:

be bored, restless, or uncomfortable on the long flight,

get sick from exposure to new germs,

be tired from the jet lag and time change,

go hungry if they don't like the food available to us in Ethiopia,

feel sadness over some of the things they see there,

have their hearts stirred with compassion,

gain a new understand for how other parts of the world live,

learn to embrace a culture very different from their own,

begin to appreciate more all the blessings they have,

see where their new sister came from,

be haunted by the children we can't bring home from the orphanages,

develop a passion for helping others that lasts their entire lives.

So, yeah, it's a choice I'd make.

I'd rather my children be hungry, tired, sad, uncomfortable, sick, even, if that were the price for gaining a heart more like Jesus.


Find more Thankful Thursday.

11 comments:

  1. I am thankful that there are courageous and strong people like you to do this work. You, your children and your readers will all be blessed. You are building a legacy of compassion in your children. Thank you.

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  2. I so agree with you! and I pray for God's protection to you and your children when you travel to Ethiopia.

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  3. Amen. What a wonderful post. I truly admire you for what you're doing.

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  4. There is nothing like "first hand" knowledge. There is soo much to learn about the differences in our world. This was not an easy decision I am very sure. I imagine your children are already prepared for what they might see and their hearts are already tender and well prepared by you. I can only imagine the impact this will have on them and on their lives and so therefore the lives that come in contact with them. What a wonderful thing you are doing. God's blessings on you all. Debbie

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  5. Thanks for sharing about this. I am curious; Have you and your husband always been on the same page about this topic? This is something my husband and I are not totally on the same page about and I was wondering if this was something you had to work through.

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  6. Thanks so much for sharing. I know a gal that you might want to meet on her blog. They've adopted 3 children from Ethiopia. Her blog is
    http://stutzmaniacs.blogspot.com/ Wonderful post. And I would say "take the kids". What an amazing opportunity! Blessings.

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  7. :) My newest employee is from Ethiopia.
    I had to ask him where the country is located... my geography is that bad!!!
    He has a unique accent.. he told me its British English. Very polite and hard working fellow.
    I now want to learn more about their culture.
    Happy Thankful Thursday!

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  8. you are a wise woman. popping in from NFF on The Girl Creative

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  9. Without bearing our cross, we can never learn about the heart of Jesus. Great post!

    http://youcanfacetodaybecausehelives.blogspot.com

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  10. Oh WOW! What a wonderful TT post! When we obey God, He will truly take care of us! Thanks for sharing with us this week for TT! -Blessings!

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