We will leave Britt behind yet again to go to Ethiopia. We will fly across the ocean to the two strangers who are my children.
We leave in 1 week and I'm scared out of my mind.
I am petrified I won't love them. I grow weak at the knees wondering if they will annoy me and just feel like other peoples children playing with Britt's toys. How do you love someone you don't know?? I'm so scared of what the moment with feel like when they walk into my house. Because it won't be my house anymore. It will be OUR home. I'm so scared because there are moments when that all I feel like I'm doing in adopting two older children, is welcoming complete chaos and pain into my life. Not because they will bring ME pain but because they will have pain, which will in turn, be my pain. I feel utterly unprepared and inadequate.
I wasn't scared when the time for Britt to be born came. I definitely thought a lot of the unknowns, wondering what life would look like and how Eric and I would still be Eric and I. But there are millions of moms to ask advice. To hear their stories. To know that even if things are hard, and things don't flow, that you're normal. You're not the only one experiencing that emotion, experience, or moment. There are millions of books on what to do with babies. How to feed, swaddle, shush, change diapers, create a schedule, what to buy, how to put together a crib, how they communicate and what their little eyes and body are trying to tell you.
But there is no book on Fiyori and Kobe.
There is no book to tell me how fall in love with a seven year old and three year old. Who look nothing like me. Who have experienced pain and suffering beyond what I ever will. There is no one to show me what healing a broken heart looks likes in daily practical ways. I don't know how to love two children who were not meant to be mine. They are mine, and God ordained them to become mine, but the reality is, is that it's this fallen world that has led them to me. They were born to their birth mom, and the sin that has corrupted this world makes life imperfect. Praise Jesus for His redemption over our lives. But if their world was perfect, they would be with their mother. The one who loved them enough to give them to me.
I wept during the service this past Sunday because I'm fearful. And because we sang a song with the lyrics that said this:
I will bless the Lord forever,
And I will trust Him at all times.
He has delivered me from all things,
And He has set my feet upon the Rock.
I will not be moved, and I'll say of the Lord:
You are my Shield, my Strength, my Portion, Deliverer,
My Shelter, Strong Tower, my very present help in time of need.
My sweet Savior has pressed one thing into me time and time again when I allow the fear to overtake me and all I can do is bow my head with tears falling down my face and say is, "I can't do it, Lord. I can't do it."
He says one thing.
"Yes. Yes, you are right, My child. You cannot, and you never will.... But I CAN. For it is I, not you, that will heal their hearts. I will be the Strength for the 10th meltdown of the day. I will be the Peace for the storm that rages inside the hearts of your children because of their pain. I will be Redemption for the moments you never had with them as infants. I will be the one to whisper Love over their shattered souls..... I have just chosen you to witness My power."
The bands of fear that wrap their ugliness around my heart wither away when I rest in that. Because the fact is, is that yes, the hard is about to begin. Life is going to change so drastically and all will feel wrecked in moments. But Fiyori and Kobe will bring unsurpassed amounts of joy, love and fullness to my heart. Because it is Jesus who will make them new. It is Jesus who will make them apart of our family. And it is He who will show my doubtful and fearful heart that He can grow love for strangers even when I question.
He IS and will be my very present help in time of need.
Aren't they the most precious faces you've ever seen???:) Gah, I cannot wait to hug their little bodies again.
3 comments:
mmmm. praying for you sweet friend. Thanks for always being an open book and letting your emotions show- even though at times I'm sure it's painful. Praying for God's continued power and strength to be upon you, Eric, and Britt as you each adjust to having Fiyori and Kobe complete your family of five. I want so badly to just leave work right now- drive up to Norman and help you organize the chaos of just moving- I kid you not I'd do it!! Life is going to be messy but know that God has given you a support system bigger than any What to Expect book out their can provide and I know that any one of us would come to your aid at the drop of a hat! LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU and your entire precious family!!
Meeting them over a week ago in ET when we were there, I just wanted you to know they seem to be very close as siblings to each other, and both seemed very sweet. We so enjoyed taking their photos, and it was an honor to see their photos that we took on your blog! I believe as you said in your very well-written blog post that God has ordained this, and since He has, He will be there every step of the way. They are precious! Congratulations! - Brandon and Sarah Battle
Anna, I've been following your adoption story on the blog for a while and told your story to a friend of mine who has 9 adopted kids (most adopted as older kids, and 3 from Ethiopia) and she said she would love to talk to you if you ever have any questions or just need someone who understands. I don't know if that would help, but she's great and has definitely allowed God to bring chaos into her life and has learned to embrace it. I'll be praying for you this week!
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