I never keep them, so I decided a couple of years ago to stop making them.
I have, along with many others, come up with a focus word for 2012. A focus word is a word to focus on throughout the year, pray about, strive toward, etc. I thought about a word for a while. I have SO many things I need to improve on. Given the place we are in our life, I chose...contentment.
I came across this graphic over the holidays as we all hurried to finish up the Christmas shopping and wrapping. I became even more aware of the contrast between my life and so many others around our world. The Lord has blessed me far beyond what I deserve. Yes, I long for a child. But why am I not more content with what God has blessed me with at this time in my life? Why am looking for more instead of using what He has given me now?
God calls us in James 1:27 to "...to look after orphans and widows in their distress..." What have I done? I have tried to bring more awareness to adoption and the needs of our foster system. My heart has become passionate about the subject, in fact. I have advised many families looking toward adoption even though I still know very little. Yet, God has still given us time to do more. He has given us time as a "Party of Two" for a reason. If we are ready to care for a child, why must we wait until we are matched with a baby. How can we care for a child now?
For a long time, Russ and I always intended to sponsor a child. We just never got around to it. How sad that we took such a light hearted approach! I'm ashamed to even say that. It was the graphic above that reminded me, for lack of a better word, of what we always said we would do. Why not now? We are longing to care for a child. Why not now? Why not spend less than what it costs for us to eat steaks to sponsor a child for a month? So we did it.
I have read on several blogs I follow about Compassion International. I have grown to trust these women, and I know some through mutual friends. I have watched them talk about how they have been blessed through this organization and through their relationship with their sponsored child(ren). Some have even met!
Meet Winifer. She is a five year old little girl from the Dominican Republic.
We sponsored Winifer for a mere $38 a month. That is pittance compared to what we spend money on throughout the course of a month. It is a tiny act that we would probably barely notice coming out of our account. However, to this little girl, it could be life-changing. Some of the benefits a sponsorship includes are: nutritious snacks or meals, educational opportunities, health and hygiene training, medical checkups, the caring embrace of a local church, and the message of God's love through Jesus Christ. We are able to communicate with Winifer by sending letters, photos, and gifts. She will be able to write back to us with help of a Compassion worker. We will receive updates about Winifer through Compassion as well as at least three letters from her each year. I am beyond excited about getting to know this sweet little girl! We should have our information packet in the next week so that we can begin writing letters to Winifer. We can begin praying for her now...by name.
I know I have said before that not all are called to adopt, but we are ALL called to support orphans and widows. Maybe this is one way you are called to support those. Or maybe your Sunday school class or small group would like to sponsor a child. If so, I hope you will join us as we begin caring for this child.
I pray God continues to show us ways to use our "Party of Two" status for His glory. Not moping and longing for the day Baby J joins our family. Of course we look forward to that day with excitement and longing. But we also acknowledge God's perfect timing. We don't have to wait to start caring for a child. We can start now.
