Together for the Good

I just got home from our adoption agency’s annual women’s event. The event features the testimonies of 4 women who play some role in orphan care. Out of the 4 speakers, one is a foster parent and one adopted from Uganda. 

Somehow, I missed the memo about this event. I found out about it last minute. A fellow adoptive mom encouraged me to sell my soaps there as a vendor. There is no cost to have a booth and all vendors get free admission. Sounded good to me, even though at the time, I had no idea what the event was about.

I arrived, set up my booth and sold one bar of soap before the speakers began. Our booths re-opened after the last speaker, and it didn’t take long for me to realize that God did not send me there to sell soap. 

A few weeks ago, when we were submitted to Embassy, I thought that was evidence our case would go quickly. A few days ago, we received an email stating they were ready to interview the police officer in charge of Eden’s case. We got word that the police office would go to the Embassy at their earliest appointment. I thought, “Alright, we’re days away from clearing!” We then found out that the Embassy was backed up until August 7. No big deal, that is just one more week. I pictured me waking up the next morning with an email saying her appointment was on August 8. The next morning, I did get an email, but the appointment wasn’t until August 13. Seeing that 13 was like a punch in the gut. I know, looking back now, it’s not that big of a deal. It is just 2 weeks, though it is 2 weeks away from getting our daughter. 

Then, we started finding out that not only are plane tickets high, there are no seats available on returning flights until late in the month. 

Let me just get to the point here because I really don’t feel like writing all the details of what has happened in between. It’s just a bunch of me trying to come up with a solution instead of being still and knowing that God is God. 

So tonight, as I sat in that room listening to other mothers’ stories, I knew why He sent me to that event. It was not so I could sell a total of 9 bars of soap. It was so I could see what other parents have gone through and see that this little problem of ours is just that… little. I have been so foolish to dramatize this and make it feel so huge. Though even if it were huge, it wouldn’t be too big for my God. He created Adam from the dust. He parted the Red Sea. He saved Daniel from hungry lions. He made the lame walk. He made the blind able to see. Most importantly He rose from the grave. So, this little problem regarding seats on an airplane… that’s nothing to Him. 

He may still choose for us to wait until September to travel. But that would only be because it fits into his plan – not because He couldn’t clear seats on the plane.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28