Monday, June 29, 2009

He holds them close to His heart

Last night my youngest son woke up terrified. He was screaming and trembling and calling my name. I tore up the stairs as fast as I possibly could, not because I thought he was in any real danger, but because I didn't want him to be scared for one moment longer than necessary. I wanted to hold him and tell him I was there and that everything was okay. He calmed down fairly quickly, but was still "too scared" to go back to bed right away. As I was holding him, I was brought to tears; I began to think of my child in Ethiopia. Where is she? What is she doing? Is she scared? Does she have someone to hold her and tell her everything is okay? And it hurts to not know what she is going through. I don't even know her yet, but I love her and want to comfort her. I don't know her yet, but thankfully, God does.
And in moments like those, I don' just think of my own, but of all orphans, who have no one to comfort them when they need it so much. And I can barely stand it. I cannot handle the thought of all those precious children out there, so in need of someone to love them. And in those moments, when I feel overwhelmed, all I can do is give it to the Lord, because somehow, even if I don't understand it, He has them.
"O LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear to vindicate the orphan and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth will no longer cause terror" (Psalm 10:17-18).