Family and Forgiveness

I follow so many blogs and I truly love them all. The one I tend to click on first the majority of the time is A Place Called Simplicity. Linn and her family have begun to feel like my neighbors. This week my heart was drawn to them in a new way. Yesterday, Linn posted to her blog that their house was burning down. WHAT??? I could not even begin to believe what I was reading. This family had given up a large, very nice home to move into a simpler home, just so they could afford to adopt more children! They have just returned home with two children from Uganda and are waiting to go to China to pick up their 10th child Jubilee. There story is so deep and wide (just as the love of Christ) that I could not even begin to do it justice. Be sure to check out their blog.

I went to Linn's blog this morning to read a long account of the events of the fire. I was brought to tears repeatedly. Just as I was going to get off the computer to pray for them, I decided to stop by her friend's blog to see how the fundraising was going on the Saunder's behalf. There was anther post about urgent prayer for the Saunder's son Graham as he was being rushed in for an emergency appendectomy. Just as they were to go to their house to sort through their ashes, the enemy attacked once again. My heart broke for them.

I began to contemplate what draws us to certain people? What is it about a woman on a blog that could bring my heart so close to hers? After hearing what she was going through this week I even considered jumping on an airplane and go to them just so I could wrap my arms around them! Of course I know that my resources can be better used going directly to them but it was an instinct of mine just as if she was family. I believe that only the Lord can do this in us. It is Him who makes Linn and her family as close to us as family.

Living as a military family we have not had the privilege of living in the same town as our biological families. We have made new family through those families we are closest to in our military communities. We love these families as if they were our flesh and blood. Adoption helped us to see that these bonds that God forms in our lives can be just as meaningful and deep as those biological ones that we were given at birth. There are even members of our families who do not approve of our adoptions. To be honest I am not sure it is because of our children's race or just the fact that they are adopted. Our first instinct was to cut off these family members from our lives but God healed our hurt and showed us a different way. He showed us that by continuing to love these family members we only miss out on half of the loss. We may not ever experience a reciprocated love from these family members but we do not have to miss out on the opportunity to still love them!

Using God's love to reach out to those who are near by and love us in return or to those who are far away and don't, connects us to a larger purpose and plan. God's purpose and plan. Maybe there is someone who you have had a hard time forgiving? I believe that God calls us to simply love that person. It may not be easy in the beginning but as you continue to be faithful and walk out that love, forgiveness takes hold without you even knowing! 

Please keep my sweet friend Linn and her family in your prayers, even if you are reading this post at a later date. Our God is omnipresent and what you pray today is good for all time! If you feel called to help them financially you can do so here.