Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which passes all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
This has been my favorite verse for many years. Every time I start to worry about something, I would quote this verse and a peace would come over me that is totally unexplainable, except by God. I've been quoting this verse quite a bit this week. Since my last post, we've been busy working out kids schedules, making sure Arouna has insurance when we get back, buying things the orphanage and missionaries want in Burkina, packing it all into the largest suitcases that we own, packing for the time we'll spend in Arkansas, etc......Thus, we haven't had a lot of downtime, but when I do sit down and begin to think about all the transitions and adjustments we will be going thru in the next few months, my heart begins to race. And I have to quote Phil. 4:6-7 to keep from completely freaking out.
And then I think of Arouna, who is 2 years old, can't hear, can't see very well and will be waking up next Monday morning like it's a normal day. There is no way to communicate with him. No way to tell him that his new Mommy and Daddy will be coming to pick him up. No way for him to know that we've loved him for over a year now. No way to explain to him that everything is going to be fine and that we will take good care of him. He'll be taken from the only home he's known since he was 3 days old. And he won't understand at all. In a way, my heart breaks for him that he has to leave his culture and what he's used to. A place where he can wear only a diaper 365 days a year and still feel comfortable. A place where life is pretty simple, all the time. But then my heart gets excited for him as I think of some of the advantages he will have in Canada. The potential to hear, to see better and possibly to walk. The ability to reach his full potential that he was created for. The potential to know the God who created him and to know how much He loves him. Or maybe he'll never see better, hear or walk. Maybe he'll just feel the unconditional love of a family, no matter what he can or can't do.
Since my last post, I've had the privilege of being with friends at 2 different times in which they intentionally prayed for us, our family and Arouna. One time was a surprise baby shower that a large group of friends came to. The other time was my Bible study group that I've been a part of for almost 9 years. It was so special to be surrounded by the friends that have made this whole thing possible with their giving, encouragement and support. And then for them to pray for us was even more of a gift. At each different occasion, friends prayed that even though Arouna can't understand anything, that God would allow him to feel the love of Robert and I as soon as we held him. That even though he can't hear us say it, that he would know in his heart that he was secure and loved. I had never thought about praying that or even considered that God could do that. But He can. He can speak into Arouna's heart and reassure him. So that is now my prayer from here on out.
Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
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