We recently took a trip with my husband to Salt Lake City, Utah. It was to be business and pleasure. A chance to get out of our surroundings, forget about everything, focus on ourselves and forget about responsibilities, for a while.
Bah, ha, ha, ha, ha!
I am glad God came along and did not require much space in my Trailblazer.
With two adults, two kids in car seats, two teenagers with legs longer than my body and a bulldog, a bulldog that weighs 45 pounds in muscle and stubbornness, we head off to Utah. Not exactly the crew we had intended to take, but when life throws you a complication you adjust and keep going.
So Hurley, the bulldog, after having a heat stroke due to neglect at the kennel is saved, he gets to go on vacation with us. He was such a treat and all the kids have voted to take him on the next vacation!
After nine hours of travel, we roll into one of our favorite Chinese restaurant franchises to get supper. Our orders are taken by the sweetest young lady just out of high school. She is Asian as our girls are, which is always an opening for conversation. This young girl, S, immediately asked about the adoption of the girls. S was adopted as well. Before her adoption, she lived in the Philippines with her dad and two siblings. She told us her heart breaking story.
Her mother left the family leaving her dad to support and take care of the children. Unfortunately, her father got tuberculosis and due to the high transmission rate and the conditions they lived under, the children not too long after were infected with tuberculosis as well. S's father died leaving her, a child not yet in her teens, to take care of her younger brother and sister. She had no one to step in and fill the gap. She did her best. She did what she had to do to be the sole provider, mother and father to her siblings. S, whose sister was still in diapers, learned many things at an early age.
Most of us out live our parents and know the pain of their deaths. Our parent's deaths are expected but not as such a young age.
However, not many of us experience the death of a younger sibling when we are still children ourselves.
She soon found herself dealing with the death of her sister due to tuberculosis. S and her brother then came to the attention of the government and they were placed in an orphanage. She and her brother were adopted by different families in the United States. Years later, she was able to find her brother and has been able to visit with him. She has now graduated from high school, and is saving money to return to her home country of the Philippines. She dreams of working with children and one day opening an orphanage of her own.
As Greg and I adjusted to the small things; death of a puppy, near death of another dog, Com cast leaving our gate open while we were away and our dogs escaping. All things that happened leading up to and during our "escape".
We were reminded that there are much greater adjustments innocent children of this world experience. Miraculously, S and her brother were given a home with the love of parents who helped heal the wounds. However the scars still remain. They remain as a reminder.
There are thousands of children still waiting to know the love of a family. Children who long for a family. Chloe has told us that she wanted a family while she was living in China. She tells us that she and her friends talked about having a family. She asks every day if she can go and get her friends and have them spend the night with us.
These "lucky" children, children who have been given a home or sponsored by a family, have been given much and they are giving much more back. Oh, for those of us who have been blessed with the love of a family from the very beginning, what are we giving back?
"For everyone to whom much is given, of him shall much be required." -- Luke 12:48
I am no Biblical scholar, but as I have grown and examined my life, I can not help but wonder if "those who much has been given to" are the ones who have experienced more pain in life.
Is it not those who have the most to share with us?
Is it not those who are the strongest?
Is it not those who are the most humble?
I wonder.
We did not escape the trials of life on our vacation. Instead, we were reminded of God's call on our life to help the orphan and the saving Grace of God and His tender Mercies.
I left my email address with this young lady hoping I can help her dream come true.
I know through our prayers for her, we can be a part of the unfolding miracle of her life spiritually if not physically.
I am glad we did not leave God at home when we went on our vacation. To think of all I would have missed out on. There will always be enough room in my Trailblazer!
In His Name,
Amy
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