(Written the first week that I was in Postrervalle)
I named this blog “Father to the Fatherless” and then it just sat for a few days without words. I opened it several times but never had the energy to write anything. Maybe it’s just easier to write about how much fun I’m having or how the kids bring me so much joy.
Then at dinner tonight I was sitting at a table with some older kids. We do a bible study every night when dinner is over so I brought Annee’s spanish bible which has a lot of random papers and what not in it. One of the boys that was sitting across from me was looking at a paper that had a list of God’s promises on it. There were at least 50, all in English, but he was studying it as if he could understand. Then he pointed to one and asked me what it said.
I will be a perfect father to you.
The first days here I was just so thankful to be here. So thankful to be surrounded by kids full of so much energy and joy and love. Then as I was lying in bed at night I began to think about this being life. Not a mission trip where when it’s all over you go back home, not a week long thing. Life. No parents to shower you with love, no mom to tuck you in or dad to read you a bedtime story. No parents to guide you through the hard stages of life, to love you even when you head in the wrong direction, to pray for you daily, to laugh with you, to love you unconditionally. To be there through the big and small things. Don’t get me wrong, they are so much better off here at a loving home where they get fed the Bible everyday, but I can’t help but think how they don’t have moms and dads like they should. It seems so unfair.
And then that one sentence Sayhx had me read tonight… a perfect father.
To Timmy, whose dad died and mom got remarried to a man who didn’t like him so made him sleep with the pigs.
I will be a perfect father to you.
To Juan, who was brought to the home by a family not his own. Whose parents are unknown.
I will be a perfect father to you.
To Hector, whose father is his own grandfather. Who was dropped off on the streets with just the clothes on his back and two pictures of himself in his pocket.
I will be a perfect father to you.
To Roberto, whose mom died during childbirth and dad got remarried and now has a new family and wants nothing to do with his other kids.
I will be a perfect father to you.
What a promise. What a loaded promise… and a comforting one. He knows their every fear. Every hope, every desire, every need. He will never let them down, never tire of them. He holds their present and future in His hands and promises to be there every step of the way. I just pray that they learn to rely on Him and know how amazingly priceless they are.
As heartbreaking as it is to know that these kids don’t have decent earthly parents, and as hard as it is to understand why, I have no doubt that His promise to be a perfect heavenly Father holds true in every one of their lives.
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-
God's timing truly is perfect, and I am thankful that we have come to this home specifically this month. Not only is it a blessing to serve the home, but day by day it is becoming more evident that we have come at just the right time to fight for the spiritual warfare here as well. Although I can't elaborate on the situation, I simply ask that you join us in prayer for this home, for their protection and guidance in these times of difficulty. Thank you for your faithfulness and willingness to serve with me this year!
