One year ago, we were in a hotel room in Nanjing, China, anticipating meeting our new son in the morning. I remember being nervous, anxious, excited and stressed. I look back and vaguely remember thinking: How does one suddenly parent a 14-year-old from another country that uses another language that has never had a family before? How does one teach and love and nurture someone who's been raised in an institution? How does one choose to do this?
With a mighty and sovereign God guiding them, that's how.
It's exciting for us looking back and remembering, it was still nerve-wracking, but, clearly, God ordained, and so much easier to follow knowing it was His plan! But, for Jian, how difficult and unnerving to realize he was going to go with a family to a new country, a new culture, a new language, and a new life. Yes, it was exciting for him, but, absolutely out of his realm of knowledge and comprehension, and leaving behind everything he knew, both good and bad.
It's hard to believe that one year ago right now, we were anticipating meeting our son in less than 12 hours. One year ago right now, all we knew about the boy who was to be our son we'd only read about in e-mails and seen in short videos. One year ago right now, we were a family of three. One year ago right now, God was preparing our hearts to learn how to become parents to this boy that we'd never met and didn't know, that we would learn to love.
One year ago right now, we were preparing to meet a boy that had a name given from an orphanage, no future and no hope, and within 24 hours, thanks to God's amazing provision and plan, he was given a new name, a future and a hope. What a blessing that God could show us a perfect picture of His gospel through giving us a son.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
2 comments:
Where does the time go? SO happy for you all. We really do pray for you all often and are so happy that Jian and Tanner are brothers! God has blessed us by adoption hasnt HE! Cant wait to see more updates!
Tracy
What a beautiful family! All day we've been marveling that it's been almost a year since we all were in Nanjing preparing to meet our boys. How far we've come!
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