Yes, we've all had them, but I have to tell you of mine. Last night, as we were attending the Ronald McDonald House benefit gala, I checked my phone for any messages. My parents had the kids, so I just like to check from time to time and make sure that the walls haven't collapsed and know that everybody is still all in one piece. We were done with our jobs for the night so I took a minute to check Facebook. I'm friends with a sweet girl in Texas named Vanessa. She and I have a special bond. We both beat significant odds and gave birth to conjoined twin girls. Vanessa and her husband, Jason, are in the process of trying to adopt a little boy with the same skin disease that little Tripp has (Vanessa is actually how I found out about sweet Tripp). From time to time, she learns of other children waiting for adoption, and a week or so ago, she posted about a little girl named Liliana. Her post literally, actually broke. my. heart.
Liliana is 11 years old, has down syndrome and weighs ten pounds. My friends, that isn't a typo. She weighs ten pounds. She is in an orphanage right now that puts as much value on children with mental disease as I put on the dirt on the bottom of my shoe. Its disgusting. She and about nine other children have been wasting away in that horrible place. A place where she isn't fed, lays in a 'metal cage' (according to Adeye's post), and apparently isn't exposed to any kind of love or affection. Its hard to understand how these conditions are allowed, but somehow they are. . . and of course, that's a whole different post to write about. I clicked the link that Vanessa provided and started reading about Liliana, and about this lady named 'Adeye'. She has started a desperate attempt to raise funds for this little girl's adoption. Apparently, (I haven't read all of the details), there is a family to take this precious girl, but funds were an issue.
As I read Liliana's story and looked at her pictures, I began to cry. I just couldn't believe something this atrocious was happening to a person . . . and a child, at that. If this were an animal, some crazy protest group would be all over it, but there's no urgency here. There's SO MANY children in these circumstances. Anyway, since reading more of her story last night, I've been praying nonstop for the Lord to somehow intervene in this (I'm providing the link to her story below). Daisee woke up around midnight last night and she didn't want to lay back down in her crib. I took her out (which I NEVER do. She usually puts herself back to sleep in a minute or two) and went to rock her. As I rocked her and rubbed up and down her chubby legs, I prayed to Jesus that somehow, just somehow, Liliana would feel it, too. I know it sounds silly, but my thoughts for this little girl were so consuming. All I wanted was to know that somehow she would feel the arms of her heavenly father reaching for her and holding her little fragile body. I have to believe in my heart that babies and children have a sense for Jesus that we can't understand. Just something or someway that allows them to understand him and experience his love in ways that, to us, maybe wouldn't even make sense. In the bible, Jesus talks about children and their importance (Matthew 19:14) so I can just imagine him, in his grace and mercy, providing that kind of security for a helpless, unwanted child.
This morning, I checked Vanessa's Facebook page again. I covered my mouth with my hands when I read that in ONE DAY, Liliana's adoption had been COMPLETELY funded, and there was a family that was prepared, ready and approved to take her home. I have no idea when this will actually take place, but I get the sense that its in the not-so-far-away future. THANK GOD that this sweet girl has a way out. Praise the Lord for the answered prayer. I mean, PRAISE THE LORD!
I'm so unbelievable happy for Liliana. However, my heart still breaks for the countless number of children still in these situations. This is happening all around us, and my main comfort right now is knowing that, one day, the Lord is coming back. He's coming back, and he's gonna gather all of these precious souls and show them the kind of love that they each deserve. And its not gonna be for a day or two. People, its forever. How wonderful of a day will that be?! I hope I'm close by to see the faces of those sweet babies as he takes them all into his arms.
I'm providing the link (http://www.nogreaterjoymom.com/) for anybody who is brave enough to read this little girl's story. Its hard to read, and the pictures are even harder to see, but its reality. Hopefully, enough people will see this and decide to do something. I don't know what, just something. God calls each of us to do something different. Just listen and see what he wants for you.
Praising Jesus today,
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