Well... it's that time of year again. My most favorite time of year. It's the season where our living rooms are lit by Christmas trees and twinkling lights, where we drink copious amounts of hot beverages, and hold our loved ones close as we partake in family traditions. It's the season of advent and ringing a new year.
I am sure most can relate when I say, that this year did not go at all the way I expected or planned. Which has me all too excited to kiss 2016 goodbye and welcome 2017 with open arms.
BUT,
This season of advent has me waiting. It has halted me from sweeping away 2016 and caused me to reflect and meditate on the themes of this season. The themes of joy. peace. hope. love. These words we throw around casually and allow to become cliche, when looked at, picked apart, and thought about are deep, powerful, and challenging.
2016 may not have gone at all how I planned
BUT,
It did go exactly how God planned it. He knew every detail of 2016 before it even happened.
For me, I was sure that we'd have our little guy home by now (I blame this all on the naïveté of it being our first adoption). Last Christmas, when we took our Christmas picture, I was certain this would be our last Christmas card as a family of two.
I thought this year we'd be taking our little guy around to different houses to see Christmas lights, he'd be hanging his own ornament on our tree for the first time, and we'd be teaching him all about the Christmas season. Alas, here we are, well into the season and bringing him home is a pretty far reality.
However, as I took a closer look at the word hope I was reminded that God keeps his promises. He finishes what he starts, he is near to the broken hearted, he is faithful and true, and he does not leave us.
God may not have brought TJ home in 2016, but that was never his plan. His plan is to bring him home (hopefully in 2017!). And because he finishes what he starts, we can continue to HOPE.
Then, I looked at peace. PEACE is so much more than "being okay" and it is not faking it either. It is having faith and trust in God, that no matter the circumstances he will bring you through it and that he will stay true to His word.
Then came joy. Joy like peace, isn't about faking it, or just slapping a smile on your face. You can mourn and have joy. You can be in the midst of the storm and have joy. Because, like peace, joy comes from our faith and absolute trust in God. It's being able to say, this situation is HARD, really, really, really, HARD. But, God is faithful and true, he keeps his promises, and he will be victorious, so in that I can have JOY.
I am not going to lie, joy and peace are hard for me to maintain during the adoption process. It is easy for me to be cynical, to doubt, to worry. But this reminder has given me a new sense of joy and peace.
Lastly, I looked at LOVE. But what God spoke to me about love wasn't about how much he loves me (even though I know he loves me a lot). It was about how much he loves TJ. God loves TJ more than me. More than I can ever love him. He created him, he knew his story before it began, and he truly wants the best for him and his timing for his life is perfect, even if I don't understand it.
So, even though we are still waiting for our court date (going on 2 months now), even though I am anxious to meet our son and bring him home, and even though the waiting gets so hard that I feel I can't bear it any longer, I know that I can have hope, joy, and peace in Abba's plans and that he will carry them out faithfully in his perfect timing. And I can rest assured that his love for TJ is more than mine will ever be and it is unfailing.
Please, continue to pray for us and for him, and for things with the governments to work smoothly. But be encouraged with us.
No comments:
Post a Comment