Thinking about adoption

and praying about the funds...THEN I open my email this morning.  Lord, is this a sign?

APRIL 29

Alone and Abandoned 

I delivered the poor who cried for help, and the orphan who had no helper. JOB 29:12

One of the things we tend to forget, overlook or just simply ignore when thinking about adoption is how desperately needy some children are. This came to mind again when hearing the story of a local couple who felt the need to share their family of six with a child from Guatemala. All that’s known about young Heidy Paola is that she was found in a cardboard box by the side of the road. She was less than a year old, abandoned to die until a policeman walked over to dispose of what he thought was an empty carton. Inside he found a sunburned, dehydrated infant, still breathing . . . somehow.

His decision to take her to a nearby orphanage probably wasn’t automatic. Many children are left unwanted in underprivileged countries, where poverty and need outrank parental concern in case after case. One more wasn’t a surprise. But because of God’s working through one man’s rescue efforts, a little baby left to die ultimately became a little girl growing up in an orphanage. When her adoptive parents first entered the dormitory where Heidy had lived since arriving at the orphanage, she rushed from her caretaker’s side and 

lunged into her new mommy’s arms. The bond was powerful and immediate. Nothing could be closer to God’s heart than this. I firmly believe that adoption is one of the central efforts in our day that can define the Church’s compassion for the world. With no one to protect them, children are in such distress. Their need is so great. May God raise up families who will reach out and give the helpless a home—a mommy and daddy who will protect them.

DISCUSS 

One child, hurting and in need. With no hope. No one. What can you do to help a child like this experience God’s love? 

PRAY 

Pray that your family will represent God’s heart of compassion to the fatherless.