A Mother's Love

Shannon and I had to take Will in for surgery yesterday, nothing too serious but none the less they had to put him under to do it. As I was watching him jump on the hospital bed and charm all the nurses and doctors I couldn't help but think of the mother's in Africa. I remember being in the hospitals there and watching the mothers cry with desperation and a sense of hopelessness.  I wasn't a Momma yet but I still felt that tug of compassion and the hurt they must be feeling to see their babies going into the hospital (most never made it home) and the pain that filled their eyes as they held their little ones. I had no doubt they loved them with everything in them, but the reality was and still is, the reason most children don't make it there is malnutrition or aids. I was watching my healthy boy jump around and laugh, visit with people who came to see him, tease the nurses and watch TV. I was full of hope that he would be okay, and I was trusting in the Lord to take care of him, but when they started wheeling him down the long hall, my heart began to race and I started getting shaky. Oh the heart and love a Mother has for her little ones, but by Gods grace he was back in our arms within the hour.

I was told not too long ago that in Ethiopia the parents have to give up one child at a time, usually the baby because they can't afford to feed them and they know the end result would be death for that precious life, so they do what any loving parent would do and place them for adoption. This breaks my heart that they have to do this, This didn't happen 100 years ago, this is going on EVERYDAY, thousands are placed for adoption and I never want to forget the pain that must go along with that. It would break my heart to have to do that for one of our sons, knowing that we no longer could care for them. As we pursue adoption from Ethiopia, I often wonder what their situation will be, if they have lost both parents or if they were placed there for reasons unknown. Mine and Shannon's heart both are pulled to the true orphan, the one who has lost everything and needs someone to help them pick up the pieces and show them love. I am not sure what the Lord has in store for us as we move forward but I pray this... That compassion rules in our hearts and we desire to share the love of Christ with the one that God has chosen for our family. I will love that child as my own but I never want to take away from who they are and where they have come from...

That was a ton of emotions and thoughts rolled up into one blog! Thanks for listening <3
Heather