I Can't Wait

“I can’t wait to hear your mamma laugh,

the way that only you can make her laugh when you get silly.

And I can’t wait to see you in her arms…”

   The orphan’s number one enemy isn’t what you think it would be. It’s not poverty. It’s not starvation. It’s not orphanage life. Even though those are real realities for many of them, the orphans’ greatest enemy is Fear. Not their fear… ours.

   If fear can keep us from doing anything, then it’s done its job. It’s not big fear or splashy fear, it’s subtle, and it sneaks in so dangerously. I can’t adopt because I’m too old, I have too many kids already, I don’t have any money, I don’t have any energy left…

   I always say that not everyone is called to adopt, because I don’t know who’s supposed to. But I have a sad feeling that more should be doing it that aren’t, for the above reasons.

   The number one thing people tell me when they find out that my parents are going back to adopt their fifth child is: Wow, I wish I had your mom’s energy. I’ll tell you a secret, she doesn’t have any more energy than you, but she’s just chosen to use hers for what the Lord has called them to do. She’s chosen to spend every last drop of herself and then some for someone else.  My parents do look exhausted at night when they sit together on the couch, but I’ve never seen anything bring them more joy and strength than these kids. Today they are giving everything they have, but in not so long of a time, eight families will be piling into our house for Christmas, with grandkids running around everywhere! Kids and grandkids, who will be serving Jesus with all their hearts and spending every last drop of themselves for someone else because… it’s their heritage.

“And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

Matthew 25:40

   How many people have I also heard say to me, “We thought about adoption…” But why didn’t you? Why did you try and rip that passion from your heart? What did your prayers about it really conclude to? Was it the voice of the Lord? Or the voice of your fear? Don’t think it doesn’t matter. That somehow if you chose not to because you couldn’t for all those good reasons, it won’t hurt anyone, but what about your child? What is he going to do when you decide I’m too old, too busy, too poor, and too tired?

   The Lord knew that child would be abandon, but he still created him and put special things in him that would fit perfectly with your family. The Lord can’t wait to see you all together…

Well I can’t wait to see you smile again,

The one when your eyes disappear along with all my troubles.

And I can’t wait to hear you sing a song,

Maybe Jesus Loves Me…

But I, I just have to wait,

‘Cause I know that day is coming,

So I, I just have to wait.

Well I can’t wait to hear your momma laugh,

The way that only you can make her laugh when you get silly,

And I can’t wait to see you in her arms…

But I, I just have to wait,

‘Cause I know that day is coming,

So I, I just have to wait.

And I can’t wait to see your sisters’ play

The way they do, when all of you are playing all together…

But I, I just have to wait…

   Before you decide not to adopt, make very sure you don’t already have a kid out there waiting for you. The Lord made him special, he packed his bags and is now waiting on the curb… but will you ever come and pick him up? He's waiting.

“Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’

Matthew 25:45

“I can’t wait to hear your mamma laugh,

the way that only you can make her laugh when you get silly.

And I can’t wait to see you in her arms…”

*Just Have to Wait – Steven Curtis Chapman (Beauty Will Rise)