The day started in prayer. As I was reading scripture, I was suddenly overcome with the need to look, once again, at all the faces on Reece's Rainbow. It was a site I had visited too many times to count. I had already picked out numerous kids as my "favorites"; the ones I just adore staring at, wishing I could bring home.
This time was different. I was on a page that I had seen a hundred times, but this time, my heart was pounding.
I had seen her picture a hundred times, but never did more than smile at how cute she is, wondering how no one has committed to her already.
This time, when I saw her picture, I stopped. I froze. I distinctly heard in my heart:
"This is Elisha. This is your daughter."
Taylah was the name I read on the page. I knew "Taylah" was a fake name, given by Reece's Rainbow to protect a child's identity.
Months later, I received information that confirmed the message I received that day. I cannot share it now, but someday, when I can, you will be able to appreciate just how clearly He speaks when we listen.
It would be another four months before we'd actually commit toward the journey to bring her home.
There were obstacles from the start. There have been obstacles each day since.
But this song, which so appropriately describes the adoption journey, seemed immediately fitting for the path we would travel. Hence, the blog quickly received the name "Along the Road"
Officially, what is written below is the very first post I've written on the blog, kept hidden until today.
(Written 11/29/10)
It was when I knew Elisha was mine (long before Todd was even close to committing to adoption), that I felt compelled to blog this journey. The title came to me rather easily; it is a song that I often sang as a teenager. The lyrics are so fitting to this particular journey:
Along the Road by Susan Ashton
Joy at the start; fear in the journey; joy in the coming home.
A part of the heart gets lost in the learning, somewhere along the road.
Along the road your path may wander; a pilgrim's faith may fail.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder; darkness obscures the trail.
Cursing the quest; courting disaster. Measureless nights forebode.
Moments of rest; glimpses of laughter are treasured along the road.
Along the road your steps may stumble, your thoughts may start to stray.
But through it all a heart held humble levels and lights your way.
Joy at the start; fear in the journey; joy in the coming home.
A part of the heart gets lost in the learning somewhere along the road.
2 comments:
What a beautiful post. Thank you so much for sharing. I, too, know that someday I will be on this journey. Just don't know when it will be finished :)
I've never heard that song before, but I have always wondered where you came up with the name for the blog. Last night, after I put my girls to bed and had my little worries about tiny coughs and if they would stay asleep, I started thinking about Elisha. I imagine (and that is all I can do is imagine) how hard it is for you and Todd to go to bed each night knowing that you can't check on her or comfort her and it breaks my heart. As I dealt with our stack of bills last night, choosing which ones we can pay, I know that I can't help anymore financially right now (though I did google fundraising ideas just to see). I hate that money (or lack there of) stands in the way of a family. I will continue to keep you in prayer each day, and I hope that when it is time for you to travel that things will be better and I can give you more.
I hope all the other readers out there can share just a little.
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