God’s love heals the broken hearted.

There is nothing better than a toddler who does not speak English and is adjusting to a new life to shine a light on all the areas of sin and weakness in your life. To say that the last few weeks have been chalenging would be to make light of what we have experienced since we brought our son home. My friend says that adopting a child is like having a bomb go off in your house for the first few months...or ...for some children years. That is actually pretty acurate. I can say that after almost 4 weeks the dust is starting to settle, but occationaly we have some unexpected "explosions". Thankfully, last week there was "hope" rising out of the ashes.

Prior to bringing Andrei home, I felt secure in my ability to parent him. Now that he is home, and we are experiencing all the ups and downs of this adjustment period, I realize that all of my life experiences gave me a false sense of security. I was relying on my earthly understanding of children and parenting.

I had forgotten that parenting is a spiritual endeavor. This is a walk that can not be taken in the pride of our own abilities but in prayer and humility while holding on tightly to God’s hand. May God give us wisdom to raise our children in His ways, love to show them mercy as He has shown us, and kindness when our patience runs out.

Micah 6:8 8
He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

The best way I can describe a child who has experienced abandonment and neglect is that he is “broken hearted”. Andrei is slowly learning how to trust and accept our love, and his behaviors are beginning to reflect the trust that is building, but true healing can only come from God. As his parents, we can love and guide our son towards God, but we can not heal the wound that is caused by abandonment and neglect. Only God’s love can heal the broken hearted, and I pray that someday Andrei may come to know God's healing love.

My prayer this Valentine's Day is that we may learn how to love Andrei as God desires us to love one another.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.