"Double for Your Trouble" was a really great sermon that my pastor preached more than a year ago. He talked about how we all have periods of time when we are going through. He urged every member to wake up that next Monday morning and to declare that for everything that they had lost, God would give them double for their trouble.The very next Monday I followed his instruction. It had been a very difficult business year but something started to change that Monday morning. I got a new client project that was exactly double the rate of pay and at the same time it doubled the miles in my commute. We had a good laugh about that and my pastor said that we had to learn to take the good with the bad. More than that you had to be able to fight through those low points and wait on what would come with great anticipation and patience. I think about the children that I wait for as double scoops of all that is right and true. I know, too that they and their families will get double double for their trouble.
You can't get double if there is no trouble so when I received an early morning email telling me that I was getting double the expected contribution towards my adoption fund, I should have known trouble was lurking somewhere. As the day progressed things took a turn. It turned out to be a tough day. It was a tough week. Even with that it caused me to remember that no matter what, there is double for every bit of trouble that we experience along the way. Sometimes knowing doesn't make it better and you wonder what to do. What do people do when they don't know what to do? What do we do when we don't have all the answers and only hope, faith and a fervent belief that "all things work for good?" On a day like today I just play a song that has gotten me through many rough times.
5 comments:
Hi Valerie,
Just wanted to say I love your blog. I am adopting 2 sweeties as well- they will have eyes like mine too, but not skin like mine! I love reading your wisdom and thoughts on giving children a sense of racial identity. You are my cyber-mentor. I want to learn all I can from you. Thanks for being candid. And the LORD will see you through! -Kristine
Thanks so much for this comment. You don't know how encouraging it is on a day like today.
Valerie,
Just wanted to let you know that I read your blog. Like you, I'm a single mom (caucasian) adopting from Ethiopia and my dosier is in Ethiopia. Your blog is fun and informative -- I completely empathize with the "get my house in order" stuff and I very appreciate your comments and ideas on race. I'm still pondering the one or two child options (4-7/8 age range). I like the idea for the kids, I'm a bit older, and think that financially it would make sense for me to do it all at once. I worry about time and spreading myself too thin. Martha
Thanks for posting this, Valerie. We, too, have had a very trying time over the past few weeks. (check out my blog for update) I've been struggling with staying faithful when I am just so tired. Reading the post reminded me that I don't need to do anything more than keep my head up and believe.
Iesha your comments mean a lot. I wrote this post to encourage myself but to know that someone else could be blessed by it makes me feel even better about my own situation. I will read your blog.
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