Those who observe from the comfortable side lines have
called her wild, immature, and manipulative and indeed she can be all of those
things -
It’s easy to judge a book by its cover, or a person by a moment; the
way they eat, or talk or laugh or don’t meet an expectation or unspoken
standard we have raised unknowingly against them.
Her name means ‘sweet’……and beneath the first impression
rough exterior there is a vast and unfathomable capacity within her to love, a receptive
and willing loyal heart that she alone is still discovering.
Those rugged outburst
edges are just a protective crust around the vulnerable and precious - A rough diamond
for the shaping….. I’m convinced that as she continues to learn to channel the
furious passion that drives her she can and will be unstoppable…..
Usually when you ask
a 12 year old girl what they want to be or dream of they answer with ‘A Doctor’ or an ’Actress’ reply
or with an indifferent shrug of the shoulders that conveys ‘I don’t know or want
to think about it’ response……
BUT when asked the other afternoon what she wished for her
life, the simple and matter of fact request that spilled out so openly still
has me reeling and processing its true meaning:
“I want you to kidnap my siblings
and bring them here to House of Joshua”
(Translated into English)
Back ‘home’ on the street there are others……just like her,
scavenging in garbage cans for scraps, avoiding clashes with intoxicated adults or drug high gang members, sleeping on the hard cement slabs in shop doorways, begging,
stealing, surviving…….children who have seen and experienced things I will
never comprehend. That was her daily life just 8 months ago –neglected, shirtless, alone,
hungry and afraid.
And now her first Christmas is just around the corner among
the many firsts she has experienced over the past few months. How easy it is to
take for granted a bed with a pillow, or a shirt, own a towel, underwear or a
toothbrush…..the chance to learn to read and go to school, eat 3 times a day,
sleep in safety, have a birthday (with a cake)….
Of course, I’m not going to kidnap anyone! (Just in case you
are worrying!) –
BUT I am honestly captured by the simple realisation that
there has been unmeasured worth to what has honestly been for us a weary and relentless
year….
The doubts, confusion, tears and failings of trying to lead this family have filled barrels - but it has meant more than I really comprehended.
I found this note on my desk the other day from another of our adopted children....
They are just small little things.....but more than enough for me.....
This may have been a challenging year....however love is not wasted……and even if it were I would gladly squander it on these ones......NO REGRETS!
