Over the weekend, a friend and I had the opportunity to spend some time at a children’s home in South Africa. We were able to love on them, hold them, feed them, I even got to rock one to sleep. But as I sit there cradling her in my arms, I couldn’t help but wonder how anyone was able to give up this precious three week old little girl. My heart broke, if I had the option I would have stuck her in my backpack and taken her home with me, but I couldn’t and so, there she lay. 

 I still haven’t been able to get her out of my mind, and I still don’t understand why she was abandoned, but I do know she will go through life with a piece of my heart.

 … 

Her name isn’t orphan because her Father will never leave

Her name isn’t hopeless because Jesus chose to carry her pain

Her name isn’t unlovable because she is loved unconditionally

Her name isn’t outcast because she was made in God’s image

Her name isn’t abandoned because she will grow up knowing her brothers and sisters in Christ

Her name isn’t worthless because her value and self-worth lie in her Creator’s eyes

Her name isn’t reject because she is the Lord’s special treasure

Her name isn’t discarded because the Son of Man came to save those who are lost

Her name isn’t defeated because she can rest in safety knowing God is her refuge

Her name isn’t weak because the lord is her strength and her shield

Her name isn’t broken because with the Lord, she is made whole

Her name isn’t any of these because she was made perfectly without fault, without question, without doubt.

Her name is Zoey.

She is treasured beyond imagine, cared for beyond control and she will grow up knowing she is a daughter of the One True King.