More about K

The pictures that we had of K when we sent in our commitment documents were from June 2012 - not very long after the change of director in his orphanage. We have heard many good things about changes that have been implemented since then - the children are no longer fed gruel from bottles with large holes cut in the nipples, but are taken out of their cribs and fed sitting up by spoon, or however they are able. The quality of their food has also been improved, which we have been hoping would help our little man to gain some weight.

We have heard wonderful things about top-down initiatives that give the children time out of their beds, and even some attempts at therapy and classes to help them learn and develop. Someone I know who is currently a few months ahead of us in adopting from K's orphanage was making her first visit to her child last week, and was going to try to visit K. When she returned, she emailed to let me know that she had not been able to see him, but the good news in that is that she had seen his room, and he was not in his bed! As much as we were hoping for news of him from a non-medical perspective, this news was good news in itself. He was out of his crib! Someone had taken the time and effort to get him out! To give him a bit of life in his day! Oh how that filled his mommy's heart with joy!

But even better was this morning when we got an email from our agency with new pictures that the in-country agency had taken just two days ago - take a look at this big boy! Doesn't he look better already??? If that is what six months of good food and some human interaction can do, just think what this little boy will be like when he has a family!!

Because I'm reminded again and again of something I heard someone else say - it is not the lack of food, or good clothing, or medical care and appropriate therapies, or even the lack of caring human interaction that makes a child an orphan.

What makes a child an orphan is the lack of a family.

This precious little boy needs a family - a mom and a dad, brothers and sisters. (And a few cats, too, I think!)

I can get discouraged sometimes as I realize daily how we are so much NOT a perfect family. Two imperfect parents trying to figure out how to raise four imperfect children. And then I remember that although God DOES call us to perfection (Matthew 5:48), he also knows that we are not perfect, and so HE is in the business of making us that way (Hebrews 10:14). My job is to love him in obedience and trust in him to supply what I need day by day.

This little boy has been neglected for so long - with no one to look at him with eyes that see how incredibly valuable he is, not because of what he can do or can't do, but because of who made him. He is a tiny little person, made in the image of God. He is a blessing that we are so eager to be blessed with. And speaking of what he CAN do, check out this photo:

This little boy can smile!!!