David & Mephibosheth

I use this blog to remember this time during Elsa's adoption process.   And hopefully it is an encouragement to others as well.  

Most of the posts are positive, the things the Lord has shown me.    This one may be rough to read, but I think that it is worth mentioning, because I think other people may face this type of negativity regarding a special needs adoption.

One person in response to Elsa's adoption told me, in a despairing sort of tone, that since Elsa is blind - she would never move out and she would live with us for the rest of our lives.  

Now for starters, I plan to help Elsa to be fully independent; however, yes that may be possible. 

But to answer that concern, I have a story from 2 Samuel 9.

King David had a good friend Jonathan.  Then Jonathan died.   After David mourned his friend's death, he wanted to do something kind for his friend's descendants. 

So David said, "Is there yet anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”

^"Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba...and Ziba said to the king, 'There is still a son of Jonathan who is crippled in both feet." 

"Then King David sent and brought him... Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and prostrated himself."

"And David said, 'Mephibosheth.' And he said, 'Here is your servant!' David said to him, 'Do not fear, for I will surely show kindness to you for the sake of your father Jonathan, and will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul; and you shall eat at my table regularly."

"So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table as one of the king’s sons....Now he was lame in both feet."

David is such a contrast to the rich man in Luke 16 who never once let the poor man eat from his table. 

David didn't say Mephibosheth could eat at his table for 20 years.   He didn't say he could eat there for 40 years.    The text says that he was invited to eat at David's table regularly.   He was a permanent addition to David's meal times.  


Now, I have a friend.   His name is Jesus.   He died for me (and rose again).   He asked me to take in this little one, and I already love her and am glad to do so.   

She isn't invited to eat for 20 years or 40 years, but for as long as she wants to.

There isn't a limit.

When we as adoption children get invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb, there isn't a limit.   We aren't in heaven for 20 years for 40 years, but forever. 

"Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth...Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God...." 

"And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.   And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."

"And He said to me, 'It is done!  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.  He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son."   (from Revelations 21:1-7)

God doesn't want us to be with Him for 20 years or any set amount of time. 
He loves us and He wants us to be with Him forever.   There isn't a limit.

So my fear isn't that little Elsa will be at my table always.  In fact I would like to see her cute face there.  

My fear is that I will displease my Friend.   A Friend that loves me and chose little Elsa for us.   I can show kindness to this little one for the love of my Friend.

A sweet Friend that wants me to sit at His table... always.

And He wants Elsa there too.

LID !

Our dossier is officially logged into the CCCWA system as of 11/13!  
LID means "Logged In Date".      CCCWA means China Center for Children Welfares & Adoption.

Our agency thinks it will be about 60 days for our LOA (LOA means letter of acceptance).   After the LOA there is still a couple more months for immigration and more forms on the U.S. side of things.

Things are moving forward...slowly but surely.  :)