Marco...Polo
Have you heard of an app called Marco Polo? I have had so much fun staying in touch with friends and family through this app while social distancing. It's kind of like texting but you make a video instead. Those in the group get notifications and respond when they can.
I created a family group that has 17 of us commenting through video. Can I say it is entertaining to say the least!! Video's of toilet paper shelves empty, my mom self tanning after seeing her granddaughter self tanning, discussions on who was allowed to watch Harry Potter growing up, and all the various activities to keep us occupied.
I also have groups with friends as well. One friend (who didn’t realize she was video taping herself)was fixing her hair to get ready to make a video and then sent the ”getting ready” video. Oh my! I was laughing so hard! We have now had tutorials on hair, taking walks, and beautiful words of encouragement.
This afternoon, I was also video chatting with a dear friend from high school. We were catching each other up on our families. We then began sharing how the things we thought God called us to, turned out to look very different than we thought. We were called...yes...but the calling looked so different than what we said "yes" too. We cried as we expressed our sadness to the loss of things we thought would be.
Called by God
As I shared my adoption story with her and how I wanted to adopt a Chinese little girl, God reminded me that when He calls, we must trust Him to write the story. He knows what He is up to and my response should be to submit and then remain in a posture of prayer as I wait on Him.
It took 3 years after God put adoption on my heart for it to actually happen. And when it did, the child was very different than what I had said, "yes" too!
Instead of a precious little Chinese girl I had already given a name...Chloe Grace, God had plans for a beautiful, brown eyed Haitian boy named Jean Roudy(John Rudy). He would not be a baby, he would be 10 years old.
Shaken
My friend and I continued our videos back and forth and continued to tear up. I finished my last video by saying, " We are both criers! But hey, when God moves it shakes us."
Do you find that to be true as well? When God moves, we are never the same. We are in awe of his goodness as we see the works of His powerful hand. Sometimes we see exactly what God is up to and sometimes we don't see until we look back... like I do when I reflect on the precious life of John Rudy.
I encourage you get the Marco Polo App and use it to pray with each other, encourage one another, and just laugh amidst such unknowing times...keeping everyone safe as we continue to practice social distancing.
Also, take a walk. Tomorrow I am going on a walk with another sweet friend. We will keep our distance, but get out and exercise a little too. And I know we will encourage each other along the way.
And please don’t forget to pray for those by name that have been affected by Covid 19 or on the front lines keeping us fed and safe.
Take this time also to reflect on what God has done in your life and what He has called you to do. He is always up to something! Whether its what we desire or completely different that what we expected, remember that His ways are always best.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways." declares the Lord.As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.Isaiah 55:8 & 9
So as the Hallmark Channel blares in the background with “Merry Christmas”(which I am loving these Christmas Movies), I ask myself, “Would I change the child God blessed me with through adoption?” No way! I am so thankful that I am "That Mom" who was called to adoption and even more so, called to be Rudy’s Ma. I just wish God would have given us a little more time. But man, I am so glad I said, "Yes!"
Bitter Sweet? Absolutely.
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