What If?

Hope enjoys a pony ride

Petting zoo

Swinging in the back yard!

I can’t believe it has been almost five months since I have posted an update! We have been very busy helping with a new orphan ministry with our church called Children’s Hope. The focus is on providing different avenues for our church members to become involved in reaching out to orphans and vulnerable children through adoption, foster care, and orphan support. We are so thankful to our church in embracing this new ministry.

As Hope continues to grow and experience new things, I am constantly reminded of what a blessing it is to be a part of her life. Lately, thoughts of “what if” keep entering my mind. If the Lord had not called us to adopt or if we had not obeyed, what would Hope’s life be like? This got me to thinking about all the seemingly guaranteed privileges and blessings that we take for granted . When you look at life through the eyes of a child that may never have set foot out of an orphanage until she was 16 (only to be faced with a harsher reality), you really see everyday occurrences with a different perspective. For example: What if...

Hope never knew what it was like to celebrate holidays with a family?

Hope never had a big sister to braid her hair and teach her how to dance?

Hope never had a daddy whose face lit up at the mention of her name?

Hope never got to cuddle on the couch with her mommy and watch tv?

Hope never knew what is what like to receive her first “pink” Bible or be loved

by Sunday School teachers?

Hope never experienced the awesome taste of gummy bears?

Hope never had a big brother to tell good night and give her a bear hug?

Hope never got to eat rice at Zoe’s or chicken nuggets at Chick-fil-et?

Hope never got the chance to drive two dogs crazy?

Hope never had the opportunity to steal her grandparents’ hearts?

Hope never got to ride on a boat and say “faster, faster?”

Hope never knew that God loved her and created her for a purpose?

Of course, I could go on and on, but I am sure you get the picture. I am so thankful Hope gets to experience all of these things and so much. My heart breaks for the millions of orphans around the world who will never have a family. While not everyone is called to adopt, all Christians are called to be involved in caring for orphans. God’s Word is very clear concerning this mandate. Please ask yourself this question, “How does the Lord want me to be involved in reaching out to orphans?”