Celebration

Hope deferred.

Waiting.

Praying.

Despair.

Trusting in the unknown.

But hope floats.

It tries to be stuffed down. Goodness knows our flesh wants to desecrate it or place our hope in false places.

But hope floats. Whatever the hope.  

Will we let it carry us into His arms?  Hope brought to His feet reminds us, "There is more. Don't settle. Believe God is good. Believe there is a fullness of life available to you now, even now in the waiting, the not knowing of how hope will ultimately be fulfilled."

Last weekend, some friends and I chose to celebrate amidst the waiting. Living in the tension of hope defered and hope fulfilled.

My friend is adopting her second little boy from Korea. A profound parable of sorts is playing out before us all. This image of adoption--literal and figurative.

God has made provision. He has uniquely created and formed this little fella and entrusted my dear friends with him. God has made a way in his sovereign will to bring their lives together. It's going to happen. And yet, they must wait.  Wait amidst all the human and political bureaucracy. Lift up quiet petitions and prayers aching for their son, yet entrusting his welfare into another set of arms for now.  

T r u s t.

When they cannot control timing. When they cannot control his care. When my friend gestates in waiting and longs only to share in this little life.

And yet, and yet, even in the disparity of circumstance and emotion, we chose to celebrate.

Celebrate this life! Celebrate this growing family! Celebrate the loving community he is being welcomed into!  Celebrate his adoption and all the nuances of their journey that brought them to this most dear place of God's heart!

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Romans 8:14-16

Let your hope float up this weekend, fluttering high into the arms of God, for he can hold it, care for it, and strengthen you amidst it, whatever the outcome.