Friday, January 17, 2014

Roses have thorns ...

This update is from Steve, based on recent phone conversations with Sarah.  Sarah was too exhausted after a long travel day, so she asked me to write this for her.

Rachel has had a couple episodes over the past couple days where she has cried inconsolably for 1 or 2 hours straight.  This is in stark contrast to her first couple days with Sarah and Silas -- during which time she was extremely quiet and contented.

Sarah is uncertain what has changed and how best to try to comfort her during those times.  Please pray for wisdom for Sarah, for adequate rest for both Sarah and Rachel, and for Jesus' peace that surpasses understanding to fully envelope all the adoptive families in Guangzhou this week.

During my conversation with Sarah this morning, she commented, "I am so ready to be home and for things to get back to normal."  I reminded her that, with two toddlers at home, things will never be back to "normal."  We will have to figure out our new normal.  Rachel is probably thinking/feeling the same way -- take me back to my "normal."  Even the Israelites wanted to return to the "normalcy" of slavery in Egypt when faced with uncertainty about the plans and the future God had prepared for them.  It is inconceivable to us that they would prefer slavery in Egypt to freedom and prosperity in the promised land, but they had spent 400 years in Egypt -- it's all they knew and all they had known for almost 10 generations.  We have removed Rachel from her Egypt, but she is now traveling in what seems like a wilderness -- where all things are unknown and unfamiliar.

LORD, teach us to depend wholly upon You so that our cravings for normalcy disappear in the midst of our deep yearnings for You and for seeing Your plans and Your purposes accomplished for Your glory!  Amen!

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