Of Like Minds & Experiences

It’s funny how a person can have the most vexing kind of day, the kind of day filled with frustration, and then in the blink of an eye all of that changes.  Yesterday, I was admittedly a bit frazzled.  I was thinking about how rapidly the deadline for Honeybee’s payment was approaching, knowing that God was and is going to work it out, but frustrated at my perceived lack of progress in the support of our daughter.  I recognize now that a lot of that was the trick of the enemy intent on making me focus on the illusion of failure instead of the reality of God, His Grace, and His POWER.  Nevertheless, I was heavy hearted and, in a moment of pure vexation typed the quoted phase “Fundraising Frustrations, adoption”.  Please understand, I didn’t really expect anythingto pop up, maybe a few additional links to grants we have already applied for or ideas we’ve already tried.  What came up was a perfect hit.  I saw staring back at me “Fundraising Frustrations” and the word “adoption” highlighted in the Google query.

Curious, I clicked on the link of a blog entitled “No Distance Too Great”.  Immediately after clicking on the blog, I felt compassion, understanding, and empathy.  But it wasn’t from this blog to me.  It was from me to them.  The blog belongs to a beautiful hearted couple who are also in the process of adoption.  The particular post that was listed in the Google Search showed some of their feelings and physical manifestations of fundraising anxiety that I could relate to.  As I read their post, I felt the frustration of the writer because I was walking through it too.  I wanted to reach out and let them know they weren’t in this alone, that someone else was experiencing the same pains.  I wanted to let them know that the prayers they were praying and the scriptures they were seeking in encouragement were the same that crossed my screen and devotions…But I was afraid.

I didn’t know these people.  They didn’t know me.  I didn’t want them to think I was some weird person coming out of the woodwork.  What would I say?  What if they took it the wrong way?  Maybe I should just leave them alone.  I prayed.  Should I contact?  Again, what would I even begin to write?

Then, I noticed there was a separate link that read “Contact Us”.  In that beautiful page was a phrase “We also appreciate any words of advice or wisdom you could impart on us!”  I thought “okay, Lord” and quickly composed an email that thanked them for sharing the information, let them know that our family was walking through a similar journey and included a blog that contained some great fundraising ideas that have inspired some of the fundraising we’ve been able to use for our daughter.  I also told them about those fundraisers, wished them well, and covered them in prayers.  Finally, I apologized if I caused any inconvenience or offense and pressed send feeling sheepish, but comfortable that God had allowed me to find their blog for a reason.  I honestly didn’t expect to hear anything from them at all.

But I received a response.  It was simple, straight forward, and wonderful.  I read it and smiled as the word “like-minded” appeared in my mind and swelled in my heart.  The email was exactly what I needed and though I was only trying to help, it was I who was helped most of all.

I’m thankful for the blessing of encouragement and the understanding of similar journeys.  I am thankful for a phrase that was given in my head to pull a blog on a site that could have taken me anywhere in the world, but took me to a family of like-minded Christ-loving individuals walking a similar path instead.  For that, I am exceptionally grateful.

For those who are feeling especially generous, please visit the YouCaring site of the wonderful couple who showed such love and compassion to us at http://www.youcaring.com/adoption-fundraiser/every-child-deserves-a-family-/185954.  I’m sure they would appreciate it.

Thanks