Random thoughts as I leave Africa

During the last two weeks I have re-discovered some things about my self and discovered some things about my Lord and Savior...Jesus.  Both have been truly eye opening and I hope life changing.  For the last six weeks or so I have had the pleasure of living with a young couple adopting a child from Uganda.  Because the adoption process was taking a long time the orphanage allowed them to have temporary custody of him.  So Sarah and Jethro joined me on many occasions.  During that time I watched how people reacted to them.  A white couple in Uganda, adopting a Ugandan toddler.  Some people were quite nasty, "I know that baby", "Give me my baby." Others were very nice, "Thank you for your good work."  But the way people looked at us was truly eye opening. They were obviously adopting a child.  Their family was different.  Jethro loved to have me carry him and would say to me, "Up Jajja!"  A Ugandan baby calling me grandmother. What a blessing.  Then last Sunday in church the pieces started coming together.  What does adoption into the family of God really look like?  Even though I know I don;t deserve salvation, I can fool myself into believing that it is the most natural thing ever.  No big deal.  Then I remember Jethro.  His parents adore him.  They jumped through many hoops to get him.  When the adoption got tough and was delayed, there were those that said, "You can always try again with a different child." But Shawn and Sarah loved Jethro.  Jethro didn't deserve to be adopted, but he is.  Yes, I know all children deserve a family.  But he didn't do anything for Shawn and Sarah to earn their love.  They freely gave it to him.  He is very different from them.  But after being with them for 4 weeks he already has some of Shawn's mannerisms, and he clings to Sarah when he is scared.  I am sure that all of these parallels to the spiritual life are obvious to most of you, and to be honest...I knew them too.  But I never saw them so clearly illustrated.  I need to NEVER forget that God wants me...despite my flaws...despite my being different.  Satan and his demons will taunt me from the sidelines, but God's Holy Spirit will give me words of comfort and hope. You know... Shawn is adopted too!  What a great gift for Jethro!  His father will always understand that piece of him that wonders, "Why me?"  I too ask, "Why me Lord?"  For now, I will have to be content with the loving words He speaks to me through His word and the comfort of the Holy Spirit.  But there is a part of me that wants to ask Him face to face, "Why me?"  I can't wait to hear Him say, "Because I loved you."