Friday, May 31, 2013

The Impossible Journey

Our long-awaited birth parent court date came and went last week, May 22, without much fan-fare. We were told that Ashagre's dad did not show for his court appointment, which meant, at that time, that we were all in a holding pattern. Life in the adoption pipeline is very much about waiting, and it is about patience. I am not very good at either; still working on getting better at both, but, thankfully, God has taught me, that, through the waiting and in the patience, as I try to control less and loosen my grip on what can't be controlled, as I trust His control and His plans for us, I have released a huge burden in my life. Control is just selfishness that we can make things turn out our way. God is perfect; we are not. I am so glad He is in control, and that He has taught me this lesson and released this burden through this wait. So the court day came and went, and we waited.

We were all disappointed and pretty sad, but we knew it was a part of God's plans for us and for Ashagre. It is not unusual for a birth parent not to show to court. With such a vast country and without phones, computers, home addresses, calendars, snail mail, etc. how does any birth parent ever make it to court at all?? I am thinking it is sort of like looking for a needle in a haystack, but God controls that; I do not!!!

So, a father made the impossible, difficult, 10-hour journey to a far away city in Ethiopia, a week later, to make the ultimate sacrifice of love... waiving his parental rights to his son, never to see him again, so that his son could have the chance at a better life. This sacrifice is not our control; that is God's control. Oh, our hearts have been heavy about this for weeks, thinking about that scene in the courtroom, playing out while we slept, half-way across the world. What must it have been like for him? Did he think of his son? Did he cry? I can't imagine! Bless him Lord and keep him firmly in your grasp; fill the hole in his heart. Take away his grief and pain. I pray for the ache he must feel. I pray that the Lord shines His face upon him, as he makes the long, hard trip back home and in the coming months and years to come, that he will  have peace!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you, Mr. Himdali for making the ultimate sacrifice, so that your little boy, who you have watched grow up for the last 5 years, can be a part of our family.

From heartbreak and sacrifice to our excitement and love that has grown over the last 2 months... the last 2 years, really. Oh, how we have fought for Ashagre! We will now get to see the child that we have prayed so hard for for the last 2 + years. I can hardly believe we will get to touch him, hold him, tickle him, squeeze him, hug him, and get to look into those big, brown eyes. Surely, we will  glimpse the face of Jesus!!!!!!!!! THIS IS REDEMPTION. This is where the wait and our patience and trust in Him will bear its fruit... that is LOVE. Love for us; love for Ashagre. Ashagre passed court. Now, we get to go meet our son, an orphan no more!!

Praise the Lord!


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