Washington has really been on my mind and heart. Not the government, though I do feel like I should be praying for them more often. Washington is an 11-year-old boy who is deaf and orphaned. A friend of mine posted his picture and story from Reece’s Rainbow, which is an organization that specifically raises money to help children with special needs get adopted by other people donating towards their adoption. Such an amazing ministry!! Anyway, this is a small snapshot of Washington: “Washington’s personality is very sweet and thoughtful. He is wonderful with younger children and always offering to help without being asked to. He also really wants a family. He carries in his pocket a newspaper picture of a random family that he showed us. Broke my heart not to be able to take him home with us right then. He can write his letters and can show you the sign language for each one, so despite a limited education he seems like a really bright child.” I wanted to cry thinking about this sweet thing!! I know there are so many other children on the site that are probably in much more dire situations – especially those who need more immediate and long term medical attention – but this precious child created by God walks around with a random family in his pocket because he desperately desires a real family. SO many thoughts rush to my mind: Who will take up the call to take care of orphans and adopt Washington? Will Washington ever get a real forever family? Why won’t more people adopt? Why do I have to wait to adopt?? After a couple days, God showed me another aspect with Washington’s story: How I am seeing Washington, and how my heart is breaking for him, is only a small portion of how much God loves him and everyone else in the world. So many people walk around holding on to “paper families” – things that they think will satisfy but won’t because it’s not the real thing. People in the world are holding onto their relationships with boyfriends and girlfriends that are empty, to pornography that is shaming, to television that is morality dulling – all the while Jesus is right there begging, “Come to me! I am the way, the truth and the life! I will satisfy your very soul!! My yoke is easy and my burden is light – cast all your cares upon me, because I care for you.” Do you think Washington would choose his paper family over the real deal? Absolutely not!! How much joy would he have to finally toss the random family from the newspaper away and be received into the arms of a family to love him forever? Multiplied kazillion joy!!! Just like there is an opportunity for you to help Washington be adopted by a forever family – you have the same opportunity to do the same for others eternally. You can share with your coworker, your neighbor, your friend, you family member, that stranger on the street the BEST news: That there is an eternal Father that loves them SO MUCH, that He sent His ONLY SON, to not only die for every single thing that they have done wrong or will do wrong, but also to adopt them as HIS CHILD! And all they have to do is cast away their “paper families” and receive Jesus Christ as Lord of their life to be adopted into the biggest family on earth and in eternity – into the family of Christ. Lord Jesus, I pray for Washington. Thank you for creating him just the way he is, and for his desire for a real family. I pray not only for him to be adopted into a forever family here, but also receive you as Lord to be a part of an eternal family – I would love to meet him someday Lord and talk about your story in his life!! I pray that you will continue to convict me to with the truth of people around me who need you. I pray for open and ready hearts to throw away their “paper families” and accept you into their life. I pray that I will be obedient to step out in faith to share the truth of the Gospel with others. Please visit Reece's Rainbow to donate money towards Washington’s adoption, and poke around the website to see other precious children who need families and funds. About LeahLeah works with Master Plan Ministries at Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO. Other than watching college students' lives change, she enjoys getting her mind blown by God and His Word, watching sci fi, baking cupcakes, and spending time with her hunky husband. Sharing this article over at these awesome blogs.
1 Comment
Erin Herbst
3/14/2013 08:36:02 am
What a beautiful, touching, convicting post!
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