It’s Mother’s Day.
Just like many moms, I am being spoiled and loved and graced with cards
and food and gifts. But my heart is also
broken for the millions of kids without a home or a woman to call mamma. Our church dedicated today to promote
adoption. Our pastor gave an amazing
sermon that made me think even more. He
talked about how much God loves the fatherless and how He wants to be the
Father to the fatherless. But who is
their mother? It is the Bride of
Christ. In other words…you and me. He stated some statistics and the one that
caught my attention was that if we put all the orphans in one place, they would
fill enough land to become the 7th largest country in the
world. After the service, there were
various agencies with tables who gave out information on foster care and
adoption. Throughout the foyer there
were pictures of kids in Colorado who were waiting for parents to take them
home. All these kids were not going to
go back to their parents and now waited to find a home. They encouraged us to take a picture of one
of the children to take home and pray over them. There were about 100 pictures of various kids
all around the church. Does this seem
wrong to anyone? Why is it that we need to take beautiful pictures, with their
hair perfect and posing just right, and stick them up on the church walls to
hopefully get them a family? Why are
there not droves of Christians clamoring to take one of these kids home? Why do we need to dress them up and hope for
the best? This is not just unbelievable…it
is wrong! Where are you church? Why doesn’t every single child on those
church walls have a home? I know we have
our reasons. We don’t have the
money. We can’t even handle our own
kids. We don’t have time. I realize that not every family can take in a
child. Some are not in a place to do so. But what about those who shut their eyes and
ears to the cry of the fatherless? I know it’s scary. I know it’s a risk. I know it may fail. God may not be calling you to take in an
orphan. But what if He is? Have you ever asked Him? Is your heart beating with His? Even if you may not be able to take in a
child, there is plenty for the church to do.
You can sponsor a child in Africa.
You can pray and be a mentor to a foster child or a foster family. If you can’t be the mother or father, you can
support those who can. You can give
money so a family can adopt a baby from China.
You can bring meals to that family who adopted 4 kids from the
Ukraine. You can listen to their cries
and do something…anything.
I know I’m being a bit harsh, but I believe something is
wrong here. There should not be kid’s pictures
on the church walls who are homeless and family-less. After all, God adopted you. He adopted you when you didn’t look
pretty. When you were knee deep in sin. Even
when you rejected Him, He called you Son and Daughter and gave you a home. Can’t we as a church do the same? We are the “mother” to the fatherless. I know, not the feel good Mother’s Day
message you were expecting. But my “mother’s
heart” is burning with conviction and urgency about these kids having a
home. Every child deserves to have a
home. Not one should be left without a family.
Do not turn a deaf ear to the ones so precious to the God of
the universe.
Listen to their cry.
Listen to His heart.
Hear what the Spirit is saying to church! Hear God’s heart
for the orphan!
He loves them with a passion….will you?
Aww, it's great that God has given you such a heart for orphans. When God gives us a burden, it can be hard to understand why other's don't share it. There are many urgent problems in the world, that people could make a plea such as yours. It is SO hard to see the injustice of abortion, sex slavery, battered wives, the list goes on. I'm glad that God is BIG and on the throne, or I'd be so overwhelmed and sad. Be of good courage, God will answer your prayers.
ReplyDeleteSo, so true. Thank you for the reminder. I can't even imagine all the little scrapped knees that don't have anyone to kiss them, or little one's who don't have anyone to stay up with them all night when they're sick. It's so difficult to remember that the American dream lies about what it is that will make us happy- comfort, security, luxury, etc., and that our orphans must compete with those things for people's hearts and care. Lord, have mercy.
ReplyDeleteKathi, I'm glad the Lord has given you a heart for these children. I myself have come to the realization that the fatherless are the heartbeat of God, and am often frustratd by the lack of attention they get from the church. It is refreshing to see someone else speak up for them. May the Lord bless you for taking up the burden of His heart that He has shared with you.
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