The Day After Good Friday

I think this day has a certain name to it doesn't it? It simply can't just be referred to as the day after Good Friday or, the Day Before Easter.


Nonetheless today really has me thinking, I woke up thinking about what it would have been like for Jesus' family and disciples today. I think of merely what it felt like the day after my dad died and I know what a bittersweet day that was. It was a very sad day, but also a day I knew my Dad was with God and no longer suffering. Can you imagine being Jesus' family today? He had cousins and most likely brothers, his mom and his followers, not to mention oodles of friends. And I too often just think about how this influenced those closest to Jesus, but what about those he touched otherwise, the blind man, the paralytic, the demon possessed, the little girl in the upper room who was dead, those in the synagogue who did believe, the centurion's family, the woman with the issue of blood, the lame man by the pool, Lazarus, the prostitute, the adulteress, the servant in the Garden with a healed ear, Pilate, the thousands fed with just a little, the shepherds, the wise men, the innkeeper, the Palm Sunday rejoicers, the Lepers, etc. What do you think all these people were thinking when they heard that the man that performed such a miracle in their lives was now, dead.


Think about it. We see the big picture, we're educated on this and have the Bible to show us what happened and why, but these people... they were just trying to wrap their minds around all of this. Some of them might have remembered that the scripture SAID there would be a Savior, but even if so, most people had their own ideas of how he would come and what he would be like... A KING, majestic! So try to put yourselves in ALL these people's shoes today, The Day AFTER Good Friday, the day BEFORE Easter. What would you do? How would you feel? I know I would be confused, doubting, second guessing, sad, feeling like my hope was stolen from me, and not just that, but brutalized first. I would be wondering if this man was really who he said he was, and yet if not, how did he touch my life so!! Wanting to still believe but being faced with harsh worldly realities.


As I thought about all of this this morning, I realized how much it paralleled our adoption situation. These people did have God's word, they did hear a Savior would come... some of them may have even remembered when Christ was born, but the current situation did not fit into their preconceived ideas. And the ground they had built on, the faith they were finally starting to have in this man, started to shake when He died... and was buried. Where was the victory in that, they wondered. Why after all those miracles would death take such a man they thought. How could a man so full of grace and good teaching be defeated and false they pondered. And I guess I have caught myself doubting our adoption in the same ways. Going from remembering the promise, to doubting, to holding fast to it again, to grieving and back to holding fast.


Ultimately, if your not sure God still speaks clearly to people, you might have a hard time understanding why Rob and I cling to this adoption so much, why we don't move on and bless another child in need. But Rob and I have tested and tried the scripture to see where God tells us He no longer talks to His people anymore, and we have found nothing saying such things. We have heard of seasons of silence, but they were always followed with seasons of communion with God, never permanent. Rob and I have felt and heard God in this situation, so even though I am being very really with you and telling you we've doubted, we still cling to the promise.


I wonder how many people thought Mary Magdalene was crazy, still saying that it was her LORD that was buried in the tomb. But Mary clung to what she knew and believed, even in the midst of things that were hard to understand. Our adoption seems to be in a season similar to that of The Day After Good Friday... but praise God, Easter is coming.

PRAY FOR HAITI

We still have no news on the kids. But we continue to pray! Thanks for your prayers!

There are so many problems in Haiti... and many problems with the adoption process.
Please read the following article... And pray for Haiti!
http://adoptivemomhaiti.blogspot.com/2008/03/my-article-was-published.html

It will give you huge insight into what our kids are dealing with and what challenges we might face to bring them home. Yet we pray in Jesus name for all these mountains to crumble!

We will not loose heart...

We've heard nothing yet, but our hope is still high. We are in a better position than we were a couple of weeks ago, and we count all the positives in the situation. We know the kids are safe and seemingly healthy, we know it's still the desire of the mom's heart to have us adopt her kids and we know the grandma also sees the benefit in it. Please continue to pray and rejoice in the progress!!! Thanks SO much for all the encouragement you have all given us. We attended Messiah Lutheran Church last Sunday and we were bombarded by support and questions, prayers and love. What an amazing, caring family we still have there! Thanks everyone! We love you all!!