Beauty in Redemption {Day 9}

It was February 2007 and Rob and I sat in a library in North Seattle. I saw that I missed a phone call from our adoption social worker. I stepped outside to call her back.

“I have a referral for you and Rob. I am emailing you the information now.” I try to make sense of what she is saying. Just a week or so earlier we turned in all our paperwork. And so far in our journey to be parents nothing had moved in the fast lane.

We speed home and fly through the door. As we search for the email, my emotions are all over the place. And then, there he is. Black hair, lots of it and his eyes closed. Just a few days old.

Surreal, staring at a picture of a baby who would become our son. I remember wanting so much for his eyes to be open, to really see him.

Seven years ago today, we stood at the Embassy in Guatemala. Holding an 8 month old boy with the biggest, most inquisitive brown eyes you have ever seen. His eyes wide open for me. Seven years ago this week we hung out in Guatemala City, waiting for the ok to head home with him.

Thus far in my life, our adoption of Samuel has been the place that I have tasted the sweetness of redemption the strongest. Samuel, meaning ‘asked of God.’

Here are a few of the places I have written about our adoption journey and once again would be honored for you to visit them:

• Leaves of Redemption (both on our miscarriages and the adoption process. from my heart)
• Waterfalls  (trusting God and adoption)
• Going Home (bringing Sam home, by far my most read post on this blog. there’s also lots of fun pictures!)

Yesterday I wrote about our miscarriages and Beauty in Heartache.  Thank you for your kind words and love in the midst of that. And in all honesty, I am emotionally tired, in a good way. I realize when I begin to tap this keyboard with that part of my soul, I feel vulnerable. I think if I hadn’t told you I was writing today on Beauty in Redemption, I might have just skipped out of my day 9 post.

But here we are.

And maybe my best offering from a tired, but hopeful heart is a prayer.

Father, redemption is your specialty. You take the ashes and make beauty. The zigzag paths of our choices and make a life. You are always working, always redeeming. You look to barrenness and say much fruit will grow. You shower us with the redemptive power of love. We don’t have to look far to see the beauty of redemption. Of a wrong made right. Of justice and glory and deep joy. Redemption, all the great novels and movies knowing its the secret hope of life. You hold the key to it all. This deep seeded desire we have to be known and seen and restored.  You never give up on your dream for us. You open his arms wide, redemption for us all.

“You said You’d come and share all my sorrows,
You said You’d be there for all my tomorrows;
I came so close to sending You away,
But just like You promised You came there to stay;
I just had to pray!

And Jesus said, “Come to the water, stand by My side,
I know you are thirsty, you won’t be denied;
I felt ev’ry teardrop when in darkness you cried,
And I strove to remind you that for those tears I died.”

Amen.

I am participating in The Nester’s 31 Days of Series. Click right here to see all the amazing topics!  I am writing on 31 Beauty Full Days.  You can read the intro post here.  And you can also always click on the button on the sidebar to see all posts in the series.

Lastly, if you want to receive the series via email, enter your email address in the Subscribe box. Once you do, you will receive a confirmation email and after you verify it, you will start getting them!

{top image credit}