In the Orphans Defense

Tom Davis has challenged his readers to write a positive protest post regarding Warner Bros. new horror movie "Orphan". I have to admit when I first saw the preview for this movie it made me angry and sad. How could and why would they make a movie for entertainment that attacks hopeless, helpless children that cannot defend themselves?? Children don't ask to be orphans. They certainly don't deserve to be negatively and hatefully portrayed for the sake of making a buck. The movie proclaims that it must be hard to love an adopted child as much as your own. That statement can only be made out of ignorance.

Let me tell you how orphans have changed my life...

This past January, my husband and two of our daughters visited Uganda. We had the privilege of visiting Christian Life Ministries' orphan village and the children we sponsor there. This is an amazing ministry. Their mission is to raise a generation, an army, for the Lord! We are blessed to be a part of what they are doing in the lives of these children.

What struck me about these children was the genuine love and appreciation they showed us. They were so happy that we had come to visit them. They were so thankful that by our sponsoring them they had food to eat and that they could go to school. They are thankful because their most basic needs are being met. I was humbled by this realization and thought of all the things we take for granted... good food, clean water, medical care, a safe place to sleep.

We are changed forever because of these orphans. My husband, our girls, and I love these children. We pray for them and we know they pray for us. We desire to be a part of their lives and help them to achieve whatever the Lord has planned for their futures. Our family has a greater desire, fueled by our love for these children, to help the helpless.

During that same visit, we met a boy and a girl that we fell in love with instantly. At that moment we knew that they were our son and daughter... it was as if we had given birth! Now... I have had seven babies... and I KNOW what it feels like to fall in love the moment you see your child. It's a beautiful thing!

Once we returned home we started the process to adopt them. Even though they are not physically with us, they are our children, and we think about them all the time. We love them as much as we love our other children. Our children love them as brother and sister and are anxious to bring them home.

A few weeks ago, I returned to Uganda to visit our children that we are adopting and our children staying in the orphan village as well. I experienced such joy in being with my son and daughter and getting to know them more. The desire to bring them home is stronger than ever! The unconditional love and acceptance these children, my children, showed me... melts my heart. Our sponsored children were amazed that I had returned to visit them again. My love for them, our families love for them, compels us to return to see them and to be a part of their lives.

Meeting the children that we sponsor, affectionately known as "our" children, and meeting the children we will adopt... has changed our lives in the most beautiful and profound way. I have a deeper understanding of God's love for me... His unconditional, amazing, perfect love. Because I was an orphan until... He... adopted... me.

I am forever grateful for having the blessed opportunity to love orphans. I pray that as people rise up in the defense of the orphan the Lord will use this to bring a greater awareness of the blessing it is to know and love these precious children called... orphan.