A Good Pain

Tonight I was racing through the bathroom, trying to get Collins' bedtime routine done in about 3 minutes. I was rushing to get her in her p.j.'s, teeth brushed and hands washed so that I could get back downstairs to our friends and the Phase 10 card game. In the flurry of activity, she softly said, "Mommy, I've got to tell you something." Occasionally I have enough smarts to know that this is gonna be one of those golden moments. I stopped, leaned down and looked into her eyes. She said, "In China, I MISSED you." I said, "Oh Collins, how I missed you! I waited so long too. Did you know you didn't have a mommy?" (She was in the orphanage from age 2 to almost 5). She shook her head yes and said, "I prayed for a mommy." Earlier today, Carl was trying to get her to go with him to the track to run and play soccer. Normally, that's right up her alley but today she said no, she wanted to stay with me. She said, "I away from Mommy too long in China." As we finished up our conversation tonight I was reminded of that familiar pain...the pain that a small child or teenager feels who doesn't have a mom or dad. That pain is good for Carl and I to feel, because it motivates us to work harder and faster to get this much needed Bible Study to these broken hearts. This is a huge vision that God has put before us. It will take an army of people to make it happen. We need families who might give up eating one meal out a month, who could send $30 a month to Orbie for Orphans. Or a mom who could give up one Starbucks a week and send us $20 a month...a man who could sacrifice one golf game a month and send $75. Please prayerfully consider joining us in this incredible mission to bring life change to kids without families.

Thee Priority

I have not been very successful with New Year's resolutions in the past, but this year I have been thinking about priorities. Because we are a few weeks into 2012, I would guess that most of us have recently had at least a thought or two about our priorities. What is most important to us and how is that fitting into how we will spend our time this year? It just hit me the other day that Jesus quite clearly addressed the topic of priorities in the story of Mary and Martha. Jesus had come for dinner and Martha was busy, making sure everything was done just right for Him. Mary spent her time listening to Him, sitting at His feet. Martha was frustrated and overwhelmed as she served Him. Mary was being filled, sitting in His presence. When Martha asked Jesus to get her some help, He responded by giving her a big TRUTH that applies to each and every one of us. He was kind to her, but told her that her life was burdened and distracted by the variety of things she was doing. Instead, she was to do the one thing that was needed: listening to Him. This was the priority. This was the indispensable thing. This was the thing that affected everything else.

We adopted Collins 15 months ago. One of our consistent issues is the need for her to listen to me. Her teacher needs this from her at school. I need this from her at home. Coming out of a life in an orphanage, she is fascinated by EVERYTHING. She is easily distracted and can tune me out in no time flat! But as her parent, listening to me is non-negotiable. She can't run into the street, she has to brush her teeth everyday and stay with me in public places. She has to stay in a place of dependent on me. That is what listening to Jesus shows....an attitude of dependence. Those who know they can't make it without Him spend time with Him. Those who trust Him have no option but to spend time with Him. And those who love Him do what He tells them to do. Collins came home from school and told me, "Teacher said I have to listen and obey." That about sums it up for all of us....