I’ve been bawling off and on all day after seeing a video my friend Kendra posted online of her husband giving their newly adopted daughter a bottle this morning. They had just arrived at the orphanage in China where Anna Mei has been waiting these many months for them to cut through all the red tape and get to her. The little girl is most definitely a fighter. We could see it in her eyes the first time we got pictures. With a cleft palate, eating was extremely difficult and she was underweight–she needed to be a fighter.
There have been so many seemingly insurmountable problems to overcome. Breathless, prayer-filled days when we didn’t know if the paperwork would come through on time. Terror over a surgery she had to endure–while Kendra and Matt ached to be with her.
And then early this morning, they got to hold her in their arms for the first time. The thing that set me into such a crying jag wasn’t just the pictures, but it was hearing Kendra from behind the camera saying “She’s okay! She’s okay! She’s okay!” The great relief in her voice broke my heart.
I’m looking forward, someday, to getting to watch that little girl run and play tag with the other children in our church–her little mouth repaired completely, good nutrition strengthening her tiny body, her mother admonishing her to slow down, to not run too fast in church.
Today is a great day for this sweet family. Because of their courage and faith, because of their love and dogged determination, there is one less orphan in the world today…and one very, very happy family.
In Kendra’s own words about having shared details of their journey with us: “Maybe you need reminded today, because we all do sometimes, especially a day like today…there is good all around, too. Good people. Good deeds. Good things happening. A God that, who at the very core of his character, is good. Hope when there wasn’t any before in sight. Miracles. Incredible acts of kindness and sacrifice. Flowers pushing their way up through concrete and refusing to not grow and bless the world with its beauty even if it had to break through rock to do it
