This Joy

This morning my kids rambunctiously built a fort/tent out of chairs, pillows and blankets beside me as I churned out this devotional... A petition to God to strengthen me, to impart upon me His joy.

Is it really a devotional when it's all about me, calling out to God for help?

I don't have the answer to that question.

All I know is that it touches me when someone allows me to see their vulnerability, stretched out wide before God.

Anyhow... the kids... their tent... my joy.

And now I have another joy to share with you... Another child that God has brought into our lives. We don't know yet if it is a boy or girl. Actually, my husband and children don't even know yet, as I write, that this child is about to enter our lives.

Are you reading with breathless anticipation, thinking I'm about to tell you I am carrying this child inside me?

You are wrong. And you are right. And in this instance, I hope you will hold onto that breathless anticipation as I tell you, I do carry this child inside me... But not in my womb. I carry him or her in my heart.

I decided to sponsor a child with Compassion today.

I gave it very little thought, but very much faith. I was led to read this, followed a couple links, and soon was choosing the option to sponsor a child, today.

I tell you this, not to say, "Hey, look at me! Look at what I did today." I tell you this, because I want to share this joy with you.

This joy, that today, of all days, God would find me in a broken place and choose to use me anyway.

This joy, that today, God is giving me the measure of faith to trust that He will enable us to do this.

This joy, that today, a new child is entering our lives. A right-now living, breathing child of God.

This joy, that today, we will begin praying for this child.

This joy, that today, I am going to trust God, and go to Him in prayer, that we might someday be able to sponsor more children, and also give to this ministry.

This joy, that today, I am fully aware that I am living fully under His grace and provision. I didn't always know this. I don't even always know this now. But today I do.

I looked at thier faces, these children waiting and hoping for sponsorship, and my heart ached. I couldn't choose one. I couldn't look at their faces and choose one and not another. Then I looked to the right on the page and saw the option 'Select a Child for Me'. This was what I needed... Needed to put my faith in God, that He would choose just the right child to put in our path.

Then came the option 'Please select the child who has been waiting the longest'.

Yes.

Do that.

I entered the information, confirmed the transaction, and that was all. I don't know who our child will be, where he/she lives, the age... Nothing.

All I know is that the Lord has brought a new child into our lives today, and I wait with breathless anticipation for the package in the mail that allows us to see his or her face for the very first time.