Tears rolled down my face as I prayed the words of Psalm 127 over baby Emi during worship last week. “Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward” (verse 3).
Earlier that afternoon we had done paperwork in the office at Sarah’s Covenant Homes, sorting through binders of documents on each of the 160 children that call SCH home. I was devastated as I read welfare paper after government paper explaining the reasons why each child was neglected or how they had not been sought after by a guardian once left completely abandoned. How could a parent ever look at their child and leave them at the base of a clock tower or on the railroad tracks to die. These parents did not consider their children a “heritage from the Lord” or “the fruit of their womb.” Authorities posted pictures of every child in newspapers, urging the rightful guardians to come forward and claim the forgotten child. After an allotted amount of time, the child was moved to a government home and then eventually they came to SCH.
My heart cries out in anguish over the awful treatment these children unjustly received. I believe Jesus’ heart cries out for them too. I hear so strongly the words of Christ throughout Scripture, reminding me how He is fighting for them. “You have taken up my cause, O Lord; you have redeemed my life. You have seen the wrong done to me, O LORD; judge my cause” (Lamentations 3:58-59). Unlike the parents who decided that these children have no value, Jesus says they have infinite value. Unlike the neglect they received, Jesus shows how He is in constant pursuit of them.
These children are loved unconditionally and infinitely more than I ever can or will, but I sure feel like my heart has been stretched out to encompass an even greater love for these kids. Whether it’s Emi who was diagnosed as “failure to thrive” but with proper nutrition will be a completely normal little girl, or Caden who has epidermolysis bullosa, a lifelong skin disease that causes his tissue to blister at the slightest touch, these kids will forever hold a special place in my heart.
Unfortunately, the SCH website has been temporarily shut down by the government because they thought the NGO was exploiting the kids (which is SO not the case!) so please join me in prayer for their site to be back up and running soon, as this is their primary way of finding funds for each child’s highly expensive medical needs! We are now no longer allowed to post any pictures of the children as well, so I apologize for a lack of photos! However I know our God is so much bigger than social media and the internet, so if you feel moved to help out these kids in any way, please email [email protected] for general donations and info! Thanks y’all!
Forever His,
Grace
