Dearest Desi: How He Loves Us

Dearest Desi,

You and our mom have left Lanzhou and made it to the next city, Guangzhou. You apparently were a little antsy on the plane ride but you two made it! Our mom is working very hard to bond with you, but you are making it a little difficult. We expected the bonding process to take a while of course, but it is still hard. Leaving Lanzhou was a good step for the two of you though. In Guangzhou though the pollution is not as bad and there are lots of American families and more people speak English! Our mom is much happier, she had gotten very discouraged by the end of your time in Lanzhou. But now we are moving closer and closer to you coming home!!! Only 6 more days. 6 very short days :)

I was recently inspired by a friend here at Ouachita to compare your adoption to how the Lord has adopted us into His family. She couldn't have been more right. As followers of Christ, we were orphaned. We had no hope, no future, no one to love us. And yet He chose to love us.

Desi, the similarities are overwhelming. Our mom said that when she tries to talk to you sometimes, you turn your head away and refuse to listen. How many times in my life has the Lord tried to tell me something, and yet I have turned my head. I refused to listen to Him. I have ignored and rejected Him so many times. Praise the Lord though, for He is persistent. So persistent.

Our mom only wants the best for you. She has so much love to give to you. She would do anything for you. And she will be persistent as well.

The Lord's love for us is just like our mom's love for you-except even more. He only wants our best. His greatest desire is to love His children. And yet we reject Him. We refuse to accept His love. We think that we know best and that we can do better on our own. We seem to have no idea that this love He is dying, literally dying, to pour into us, is better than anything we could ever imagine. The life He has laid out for us is better than anything we could ever think of. Yet so many times we have told Him no.

I know that someday soon you will realize the love our mom is trying to give you, and soon the love we will be giving you, is for your best. We want to love you, care for you, and give you the best life possible. You have been adopted into our family, just as Christ has adopted us into His. And it will be our goal daily to remember all the Lord has to give us and accept it, as well as be gracious to Him for adopting us.

Only a few more days Desi and you will be home. Yet this is not our forever home. We are destined for better things. We are destined for an eternity united with the Lord in heaven. It's hard for me to imagine that life could be better than this, the excitement and joy and love that my heart has been filled with in these past few days. But it will be. And that is something to be joyful about.

Enjoy these few days in Guangzhou! We hear you are in love with your squeaky shoes. We will try to love them as well.

All our love,

Devan, Jordan, and Jenna

P.S. You are beautiful. And we love you.