Seasons, Time and Eternity

The other day, I was reading Ecclesiastes during my quiet time. I had randomly opened to the familiar chapter that reads:

A Time for Everything

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:

time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

I've been thinking a lot, while running around, trying to get things in order...

Around here, Spring usually lasts about 2 days. It's cold and rainy, then, for two days, it's beautiful and 75. Then it turns unbearably hot through the end of September. This year, it's been unseasonably cool. We've had a whole lot of rain, but when the sun is out, the weather is absolutely beautiful. It reminds me of Guatemala - the Land of Eternal Spring.

Spring is the mingling of two seasons. It's a mix of winter and summer. I feel like our lives are at that point as well. There is a time for everything, but some things are mixed. We'll be uprooting Cupcake from her homeland and planting her here. As she heals, and we discover all the hurts this precious one has endured, it will kill us as parents. We'll be tearing down unhealthy thought and behavior patterns and building up new ones (both hers and ours). Laughter and weeping will be mingled. We're dancing for joy, and yet our youngest daughter will be mourning the loss of everything she's ever know. I'll be learning when it's time to embrace and when to refrain. We love our little Cupcake with all our hearts, but we hate the wrongs that have been done to her.

As happy as I am, it's a bittersweet time for me. Adoption involves loss. There's just no two ways about it. I'm so sorry Cupcake has lost so much. I'm sorry for the hole in her birthmother's heart.

And then, I have survivers' guilt. While we are celebrating, we have many friends whose adoptions are stuck and uncertain. And then there are those who won't come home. I can hardly bear to think of it. God puts this crazy love and desire in our hearts. Sometimes it ends happy, and sometimes it doesn't. And sometimes, "limbo" lasts WAY too long.

As I was considering this, I continued to read the passage. Then, I came across this amazing verse:

I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him. Ecclesiastes 3:14

Did you catch that?

I know that everything God does will endure forever...

I know it. You can take it to the bank. It's a sure thing.

I know that everything God does will endure forever...

God has done this. This whole adoption thing is so much bigger than we are. He put the desire in our hearts. He matched us with Cupcake. He brought it to completion, against all odds. He will work in her heart to heal and give her ultimate fulfillment. He has done, and is doing it all. We are just yielding to His lead.

I know that everything God does will endure forever...

Forever...that's a long time. Our lives will be forever changed. Actually, they were changed forever back in October '05, when we first stepped out in faith. What God does endures forever. Wow! Try to get your mind around that.

For those who are stuck and those who have lost your children, God gave you the desire and He matched you with those particular children for a reason. I can't understand why, but I know it's wrapped up in eternity.

Blessings to you,

Mamita