One of the social workers involved in our adoption process presented both a beautiful picture and a harsh reality to us at the same time during our last meeting. The beautiful picture was actually her life story. She was adopted from Korea when she was about a year old. She is now a strong believer in Christ and works with families here to adopt children internationally. What a picture of a life transformed by the power of the Gospel to make His glory known in all nations. My hope and prayer is that our little girls will have a similar story to tell 20 years from now!
After hearing her story, she then told us of a harsh reality that is going on every day around the world. She recently went to China to see some orphanages her group works with and do some studies. She told us about some thing she saw, that is actually one of the things we learned about in our preparation for this adoption. It is very common that the children from orphanages may have scars around their wrists, ankles, or waists. These scars are nor from abuse, but from being tied to the bed all day. They are restrained all day because the care giver to child ratio can be as much as 1 worker to 40 children. They see the only way to keep the children from getting hurt or lost is to keep them tied to the bed. She said she saw children as old as 5 years old still being tied to the bed. HOW HEART BREAKING! I cannot even imagine my little David being tied to a bed all day every day! My mind cannot even imagine my boys having missed out on all they have done up to their 5th birthday because they were tied to a bed all the time! An even deeper reality in this story, is that all they need is someone to spend time loving on them, playing with them, meeting their most basic needs of attention and affection, something everyone is perfectly capable of doing, and for the most part, God's church who He has commanded to look after these children (James 1:27), is sitting around enjoying our comfortable lifestyles, having fun in our church activities, and live our lives as if these children don't even exist. Many get a little offended when I say things like that, but when we honestly put our lives on the table, the reality is only validated.
May God forgive me of my lack of action and lack of obedience and ultimately my sinful heart that indulges in the pleasures we have here in Birmingham, AL, and change my heart to only be satisfied in answering His command to "look after [these] orphans".
Humbly In Christ and Saved by His Grace
Andrew
Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching." John 14:23
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