Two Places At Once
As I write, it is 7:20 in Oregon. I have been with my dad, Jacob, Jonner and Teagan for the last 4 days. We left Montana on Friday, and drove to the Oregon Coast. We are enjoying the love of families that Kit and I adopted with 2 years ago. Today we spent the day with those 3 lovely families at Pacific City Sand Dune. The sun was perfect and the waves were spectacular. But the best part was watching my sons play along like-minded children, care-free, loving the warmth, the tide pools, the picnic lunch and of course the water. They even found a dungeness crab, right before the seagulls made of meal of the poor fellow. Right now the house is quieting down, children are snuggling in, and the grown ups are taking deep breaths of satisfied relief, that the calm part of the day is here, and sleep will soon come for the parents too. (After some home made ice cream, and Papa Sunshine's famous cookies.)
That is the place my physical body, and part of my mind and heart have been residing today. But the rest of me, and my the Spirit within in has been somewhere else, at the same time. Last night, as all were asleep (and this pregnant mama's body needed to be asleep), I was awake, fully aware that Kit and Naomi were starting their day in Shone, Ethiopia. They were having devotions, and then breakfast. They were surrounded by a group of loving people, preparing for their day at the care center with a time of praise, and worship. Then I fell asleep, and when I awoke 2 hours later, I was aware that they were at the care center, with Salome, and to think her name, while seeing my loves with her, brought an ache that only a mother separated from her children can understand. I imagined them holding her, and playing dolls with her. Sharing gifts with her, and preparing for lunch with her. I could just almost hear laughter and see the children in the care center running with abandon to meet the new visitors. With much prayer, some tears and then some more prayer, I fell back asleep. When I awoke again, I was aware that Kit and Naomi were very likely on their way back to the World Vision Center. Then I wondered about a daddy and sister heart, and how they would be feeling after a day with a little source of joy and peace, a possible future member of our physical family. Again with prayer I fell asleep. Then my day in Oregon started as my children in presence said good morning to the world, and my loves in absence started to say good night to the world they are in.
All day I prayed for restorative rest for Kit and Naomi, and tried to be present for the memories that were in creation right in front of me, in my physical world. Now my day is coming to a close, and their day is about to begin. They will start with devotions and praise time, and then after a meal head off together to visit our sponsor children and their families. We have loved our sponsor kids from this side of the world, we have prayed for them, we have cherished them, we have sent them gifts and pictures, and we have dreamt of meeting them. Now, today, the parts of my heart that around the world are about to see those dreams come true. They will be the face of Jesus to children, and they will see the face of Jesus in them. What a reason to pray without ceasing, to rejoice, to worship with all my being.
Tonight, I will have to pray for them, and then remember that my physical body is not just home to me right now. There is a little life under my heart, that needs me to rest and dream, and sleep. Tonight I will try to be in one place. This may be more difficult than I am capable of. Thankfully God made drug designers that will be able to assist me, should my attempts fail...and I will praise God for those little aids that made life a bit easier.
Tomorrow, my two places will be there to greet me with the sunrise.
That is the place my physical body, and part of my mind and heart have been residing today. But the rest of me, and my the Spirit within in has been somewhere else, at the same time. Last night, as all were asleep (and this pregnant mama's body needed to be asleep), I was awake, fully aware that Kit and Naomi were starting their day in Shone, Ethiopia. They were having devotions, and then breakfast. They were surrounded by a group of loving people, preparing for their day at the care center with a time of praise, and worship. Then I fell asleep, and when I awoke 2 hours later, I was aware that they were at the care center, with Salome, and to think her name, while seeing my loves with her, brought an ache that only a mother separated from her children can understand. I imagined them holding her, and playing dolls with her. Sharing gifts with her, and preparing for lunch with her. I could just almost hear laughter and see the children in the care center running with abandon to meet the new visitors. With much prayer, some tears and then some more prayer, I fell back asleep. When I awoke again, I was aware that Kit and Naomi were very likely on their way back to the World Vision Center. Then I wondered about a daddy and sister heart, and how they would be feeling after a day with a little source of joy and peace, a possible future member of our physical family. Again with prayer I fell asleep. Then my day in Oregon started as my children in presence said good morning to the world, and my loves in absence started to say good night to the world they are in.
All day I prayed for restorative rest for Kit and Naomi, and tried to be present for the memories that were in creation right in front of me, in my physical world. Now my day is coming to a close, and their day is about to begin. They will start with devotions and praise time, and then after a meal head off together to visit our sponsor children and their families. We have loved our sponsor kids from this side of the world, we have prayed for them, we have cherished them, we have sent them gifts and pictures, and we have dreamt of meeting them. Now, today, the parts of my heart that around the world are about to see those dreams come true. They will be the face of Jesus to children, and they will see the face of Jesus in them. What a reason to pray without ceasing, to rejoice, to worship with all my being.
Tonight, I will have to pray for them, and then remember that my physical body is not just home to me right now. There is a little life under my heart, that needs me to rest and dream, and sleep. Tonight I will try to be in one place. This may be more difficult than I am capable of. Thankfully God made drug designers that will be able to assist me, should my attempts fail...and I will praise God for those little aids that made life a bit easier.
Tomorrow, my two places will be there to greet me with the sunrise.
Lots of love from a mommy's heart. Christ creates amazing journeys for each of us - yours, my friend, is vibrant. Love you. Jeannine
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