Those Don't Match......

This morning as I was fixing Tia's hair I had an interaction with Tia that God used to make me realize just how spoiled I am and to remind me of those who have so much less. As she entered our bathroom I noticed that she had on two white socks but they didn't match. One was taller than the other on her ankle above her shoes- Not much taller maybe a half inch. I finished fixing her hair and said, "Tia, you have on socks that don't match and so you need to go and change them before school." She quickly replied with a very puzzled look on her face, "Mom, they do match they are both white."

In that very moment as she looked at me with a face of confussion I realized just how ridiculous I am. Here is my precious daughter who went years with no socks or shoes looking at me as if I must be crazy. She looked at me with eyes to say....."You have to be kidding me. They are both white socks yet because they aren't exactly the same they aren't good enough for you?" God used those moments to say to me- Mendy, you are looking at a young girl who went years with no socks and no shoes and now her two white socks don't match and that is a big deal? What in the world are you thinking? Is it really a big deal that one sock is a little taller than the other- and just when was the last time you were thankful for socks that I have provided your family anyway?

I know that this sounds a little silly but as I stood there with Tia and David in our bathroom God convicted my heart of how I always want or need things to be a certain way and instead of thanking Him for things He has provided I often just want more. Really there is no harm in spending a day in second grade in mismatched white socks (If you see Tia today she may still have on mismatched socks- I didn't check to see if she changed them and I hope she still has them on). Today I am just thankful that my daughter has socks and shoes on her feet when so many around the world only dream of having something to protect their feet. My heart hurts to think that I am so consumed in making sure my kids look a certain way that I neglect to thank God for what He has provided for our family.

A few hours ago God changed my perspective using a small pair of white socks- What will He use today to change your perspective? Are you listening and ready for Him to change you?

“So I tell you, don’t worry about everyday life–whether you have enough food, drink, and clothes. Doesn’t life consist of more than food and clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feedsthem. And you are far more valuable to him than they are. Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not. “And why worry about your clothes? Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won’t he more surely care for you? You have so little faith! “So don’t worry about having enough food or drink or clothing. Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today." Matthew 6:25-34

They Should Pay You.......

Tonight as I was tucking our youngest son into bed he started asking me about Lemme. He wanted to know if Lemme knew that we were trying to adopt him, if we were going to get to bring him home soon, and what I thought Lemme had done today. After his questions about Lemme he started to ask why it took so long for us to get to come to bring him home. I told him that I was so sorry that it took so long and then I started telling him a story that I hadn't told him before. The story of our process to bring he and Tia home.

I shared with Garrett that God clearly told us that they were to be our children and that our adoption agency said that it would not be possible for them to be ours (he even giggled when I told him that I literally got sick in the Concord Mills parking lot on my birthday when the phone call came- I told him I would show him the spot next time we were there). I explained that Werke (his birth mom) couldn't be located and without her they couldn't be adopted. I explained that we loved them so much that we got on a plane to go to Ethiopia to look for his mom. I shared how amazing God was to help us find her within a few short hours of being in Ethiopia.

I went on to tell him that the process was long because the government had us fill out many papers (many was an understatement here for those of you who haven't experienced it!), we had to be fingerprinted many times, we had to have a home study completed, and paperwork had to be finished in Ethiopia as well. He had questions about each thing that I had listed. This boy knows how to ask some questions and he also knows how to prolong bedtime.......

He had the most questions about the home study and I tried to answer each one in a way that he would understand. His last question about the home study was, "Mom, when the lady came and looked at our home did she make you pay her for writing about our good house and good family?" I shook my head and answered, "Yes." He then wanted to know how much money she wanted for making sure we were a nice family with a house that he could live in. I then said, "Garrett, the homestudy cost about $2,500." He didn't miss a beat and he said, "Mom, the government, the homestudy lady and the finger print place- They should pay you for being a nice family. You made a nice place for us to live and you were a nice family and why would they make you pay? I just don't get it at all!"

I sat quietly after his last question and statement as tears welled up in my eyes and thought if he only knew the entire expense and process. I explained that things but not people cost money- I shared that I would have paid any amount I needed to pay to make sure I had everything I needed to make sure he could be mine. I explained that when God said that he was to be my son that I was willing to do anything required to follow God and bring him home. I hugged him and made a promise that I would do the same for his brother, Lemme.

John 14:18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.