Connie was raised in the foster care system. It is not a perfect system. She was moved from home to home, suffered abuse from several of the homes that took her in, but continued to hope "the next home" would choose to become her forever family. It never happened.
A wonderful Christian man fell in love with Connie and they married. She embraced her heavenly Father with eagerness, thrilled to finally know a daddy's love. She also poured her life into her husband, equally thrilled to have a family she could call her own.
After birthing two children, because of some health issues, Connie was told she should never have any more children. As a result, she turned to the foster care system she was all too familiar with. Through a church contact, she learned of a little newborn bi-racial baby who needed a family. No one wanted the baby girl, because she had been born with Cerebral Palsy.
Connie and her husband did not hesitate. They eagerly took in the little angel and made her their own. Several years later, they heard about a little orphan in China with Cerebral Palsy. Tirelessly, they worked to raise the needed funds to bring the little girl home.
One might think this the end of the story, but it isn't. God is currently up to an even more amazing work in this family. At the moment, they are attempting to "downsize" expenses/debt in order to make themselves available to bring in more "homeless" children. In fact, they have located a sibling group of three within the United States who need a family, and are hoping to share their family once again next year with these children. One of the three has special needs. In addition, Connie has started an adoption agency to help families adopt children out of our foster care system with very little cost.
Connie came to my mind today for a couple of reasons:
First, if you have been reading my blog lately, you are aware of my preoccupation with orphans around the world. During the holiday season, when so much money is being spent on material things, I think often of the children who have nothing. When you go to an international orphanage to adopt an orphan, you are expected to bring clothing for your new child.....orphan children are given to their new parents naked and with no belongings whatsoever....not even a favorite blanket or treasured stuffed animal. Connie understands this. That is why she and her husband are seriously making practical efforts to spend less money on material possessions in order to spend more money on those in need.
Second, I have been thinking of Mary.....Jesus' mother today. A young Jewish girl, approached by an angel and asked to give up everything, does it! She was asked to set her reputation aside and carry the Messiah within her womb, knowing no one would believe her story. She risked her life; the penalty for adultery was death, and she was betrothed to Joseph when this took place. Even as she watched her son die, there was such controversy surrounding Mary. Some believed He was Who He said He was....but most did not. Most probably considered she and Jesus to be more than frauds.....out of their minds.....crazy. She gave everything she had to give. She is a perfect example of "Crazy Love". Connie, likewise, is a woman who gives everything out of "Crazy Love" for Jesus.
As we approach the Christmas season when Christians celebrate the birth of the Savior of the world, consider what you can do. If you cannot adopt a child yourself, can you go to www.reecesrainbow.org and fund the adoption of one of the waiting children? If so, do it! What better way to celebrate Christmas than to give LIFE to a child during the month we remember the greatest child coming to earth to bring us the gift of LIFE everlasting.
If you want to be inspired today, check out the following blogs:
www.blessedbyachild.blogspot.com (5 biological children/17 adopted children)
http://thesousabrownfamily.blogspot.com/ (2 biological children/9 adopted children)
http://www.9mire.blogspot.com/ (3 biological children/4 adopted--3 with DS)
http://torresfamilyadoption.blogspot.com/ (3 adopted w/ DS--raising funds to adopt another)
"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all those who are destitute." Proverbs 31:8
I read your blog and have been to the rainbow site almost every day. When I saw the photo of one of the children there souch a feeling of love came over me that I laid here with tears comming down my face for half an hour. I say laid due to the fact that I have lost the use of my legs. I cried becouse of the love I feel for this little girl is a love like I have never felt before all of this from just looking at a photo on a web site. The love for this child had me misty eyed several times a day for the past several days. Literally I instantly felt this connection to the child the same as a mother would. I prayed and prayed for this little girl and would do anything to make this child part of my family but where I can no longer walk am almost 100% bedbound and have an income of about $700 a month I know that my home can not be this childs forever home. Despite this there is still this strong connection I feel to the her and today while I was praying for her something happned that I want to tell you about.
ReplyDeleteAs I said I was praying for her and telling God about how much I love her (like he dose not know that hehehe). I was telling him how I knew that my husband and I could not be her parents but to please bring a loving couple into her life who could be her parents and provide her foreaver home. It was then that I felt and yes felt is the right word a voice tell me that she has parents who will soon come into her life and be her foreaver family and that she will have a long happy life with them. This has brought me souch a feeling of comfort to know that God has a plan for this little girl and that she will have a good home with loving parents who will not just give her a home food and clothes but also love.
I wish to thank you for wrighting this blog without it I probably would never have saw the photo of this little girl and never have felt this love that I have for her.