Saturday, July 25, 2009

Obedience/God Answers Prayers





Sixteen months ago we brought home Stephen, Sarah, and Samuel from Liberia.  We'd started the adoption about 18 months before then.  But God started even earlier than that it our hearts.  We both felt when we got married that we would have children both biologically and by adoption.  We always knew it would be sometime later.  It was when I was pregnant with Susanna that we felt God calling us to adopt "now."  At the time I was on bedrest with #6 with our oldest being only 8 years old.  Several of our children had/have special needs.  We were living in a 2 bedroom home.  We didn't have the finances for it.  NOW, God?  But we obeyed and God opened the doors through the long adoption process.  He answered our prayers!  He is so good!  God taught my heart what it was to feel called to bring a child/children born of another into my home and heart and love them as my own.  They arrived in our home and we set about ministering to their hurting hearts and meeting their needs and loving on them.  The challenges were tremendous, but so were the blessings.  Finally, though, we realized that Samuel's needs were above what we were able to provide.  We prayed for God to show us what to do.  We consulted many people and prayed and prayed for wisdom.  We wanted for our Samuel to be able to heal from his difficult past.  Again, God answered our prayers.  This time, He asked us to give up Samuel.  Now He taught my heart what it was to love your child but be unable to meet their needs and need to give them up for adoption.  Oh that's hard!!!  We obeyed and God brought just the right family for Samuel.  We are grieving our loss, but rejoicing at the hope that Samuel now has.  We believe that God never makes mistakes and that He is always good.  We had wanted to be his forever family, but God made it clear that our family was just a part of the journey Samuel was taking to his true forever family.  We will forever be honored and thankful for the time we were able to have him with us and will always love and pray for him.  May the Lord forever bless and protect him.  The photos above were from when the children got to say goodbye to their brother last night.

Love, Dawn

5 comments:

Laura ~Peach~ said...

God always knows whats for the best... samue sarah and stephen are beautiful kids... are they biologically related? will you continue to be in contact with samuel? you are all in our thoughts and prayers.
from the halls in GA :)

Joyce said...

Dawn,
God never promises a road free of pain and suffering ....what He DOES promise is " Strength for the day; rest for weary and light for our way"!

He promises Romans 8:28.
One of my father's favorite gospel songs was " God Leads His Dear Children Along"

Praising God for the right answer to Samuel and your needs.

Donna said...

Dawn, My heart is both crying and rejoicing with you right now. God is good dear friend, He'll see you and your family through this trial. "All things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose."
Love ya dear friend!
In Christ, Donna <>< *

Monique said...

This is the second time I've read this post. This time, though, it occured to me the beauty of his name Samuel. What did Hannah have to do? Give her (only) child, Samuel, up to service for the LORD. I pray that the LORD would heal his heart and mind and he would be a true servant of the LORD.
And may He grant you a song and comfort in your mommys heart.
Monique

Carol Neelands said...

You are an amazing mom. May God bless you as you continue to follow his leading.