About a week ago, D was placed in a residential home for kids. His anger and aggression had become unsafe for him and his siblings, and they are trying to get a better evaluation so they can help him. While D has been at the residential home, Jo and Brendhan have called daily, visited him, and taken him out for meals. D confided in Jo that in the time he has been at the home, no other child has been visited. Not even once. D can accurately spout off the amount of calls and visits he has received because he is very cautiously and carefully keeping track of how Jo and Brendhan care for him. He misses them. This has been a big deal because never before has he shown an emotional attachment to a family. He has never felt safe enough or deemed it worthwhile to do so.
I'm currently reading a book called, Adopted for Life, and in it the author talks about an orphanage in Russia from which he adopted two sons. He writes that the hardest part for him was seeing an orphanage holding rows upon rows of occupied cribs but never hearing a sound. Complete silence. Silence because none of the babies ever cried. These children never cried because crying never accomplished anything as no one ever responded in any way to their tears. No one ever came to their rescue, so instead they sat in silence. I was reminded of this when I heard of D's expression of sadness to be away from Jo and Brendhan. He has finally found parents who he can miss. He has found parents that will come to his rescue.
What I am asking from anyone who reads this is for prayers to be sent to God on behalf of D, Jo, and Brendhan. They are ready to bring him back to their home, like Jo says, as the prodigal son. They are praying for strength and wisdom and for miracles to happen in D's heart and life. I know the heaviness and weight of this post, and I am not trying to share this in order to make anyone sad. I am posting D's story to share hope. Hope for a little boy who has now found a family that is ready to love and care for him. But D still needs every prayer he can get.
My husband was sharing with a friend how much D's situation was weighing on him. His friend very wisely responded, "I know it looks so bad right now, but I think God is about to do something great. Something huge for this kid". That's the hope we have in God. Once D is ready to return home, he has strong family, he has security, and he has a school that is tirelessly equipping themselves with knowledge and love so they can help him as well. These songs lyrics has been resonating with me as I pray for D...
If you're rich or poor, well it don't matter
Weak or strong, we know love is what we're after
We're all broken but we're all in this together
I know that there are situations that leave you thinking, "this is terrible, but what really can I do?" I know I have thought that many times. I think its easy to forget the power in the little things. Last year, my family started sponsoring a child in Mexico named Andres through Compassion Internaional. At times, it can seem like a pretty insignificant thing to do as we send our small monetary support, pray for him as we tuck our sons into bed, and send the occasional letter and sticker pack. Our sponsor child wrote to us a while back and all he said was, "Thank you for praying for me. Thank you for accepting me". I was completely taken back. This five year old, miles aways, felt accepted and loved, and felt prayed for through the smallest act. I remember thinking at that time, I can never let myself underestimate the power of love and the power of God.