Louisiana Sandusky tries to bridge the fragile friendship between herself and a woman who is understandably angry at
God and at life.
Monday, March 13, 2006, 8:03 a.m., C.S.T.~
Dear Ellen~
I am so glad you decided to write back to me, even after I had "words" with you. It warms my heart to know that you are trying to understand life (that is impossible at times!) and trying to make sense of what has happened to you. It isn't easy, but if you learn to lean on family or friends, it WILL become more bearable!
Ellen, your fear of people who happen to be disabled IS understandable and just. Not everyone can understand why God would allow an innocent child to be born with an insidious disease or why they are born "sick". It is something that I have had to wrestle with ever since Bill and I started adopting children with special needs. As we got used to raising children with special medical problems, we learned that they were children who just happened to be born with problems beyond their control, All we can do is raise them to their full potential, and let them experience life to the fullest.
At times, it isn't easy (especially if a child is in the hospital, fighting for his or her life), but God somehow has gotten our child through the fire and us through the valley, and when the child gets well, it is always a cause of joy and celebration. All we can do is hope and pray for the best. No, God doesn't always answer our prayers, but He is just, and He is fair, and we have learned to trust in him completely in times of crisis.
We adopted children with disabilites because if we don't do it, who will? Too many times, people want to adopt a baby who is blonde-haired or blue-eyed (like my son, Johnny, as an example!), or a child who is healthy, when there are so many older children or children who are disabled in one way or another languishing in foster care or orphanages, with nobody to care for them. It is a very tragic situation, and the government only makes it worse by putting unnecessary red tape, making the Adoption Journey difficult at best. It is especially difficult in domestic adoptions; this is one of the reasons why people turn to international adoption because it is (usually) easier to get a child from a foreign country than a child from "home".
Yes, call me crazy. I am crazy to adopt so many children, but we aren't the only ones doing this. This just happens to be our calling, our Ministry, and God has blessed us tenfold by giving us the children we are raising today. It has now gotten to the point to where we canNOT imagine life without any of them! They have each earned a special place in our hearts, and we feel blessed in having them in our lives!
Honey, not many people understand why God sent his Son (Jesus) to earth to live as a man, only to die on a cross. This Bible verse will explain it best:
"For God so loved the world/that He gave His only Begotten Son/and whosoever believeth inHim/should not perish/but have Everlasting Life."--John 3:16, New Testiment.
Jesus did this, dying on a Cross, as the ultimate act of love. He wanted to do this to give us a sense of hope and a second chance because ALL have sinned. The wages of sin is death. How wonderful it is that Jesus took our punishment upon Himself! All we have to do is believe, and if we do, we shall be saved! So simple, but people make it much more complicated than it really is! :)
I will send you some more information from my church about salvation and the Story of Christ and His ulitmate Act of Love, and I will send you some Bible verses explaining what I have written here if you don't mind. I will send you a book list of recommended reading about parenting children with special needs or adoption; maybe it will give you a clearer picture of why there are people like Bill and myself who are willing to give children without hope a second chance. So be looking for something in the mail in the coming days! :)
I hear that y'all are in for some rough weather today, including the threat of tornadoes. I will be praying for a hedge of protection over you and Wayne, and I will be praying that God opens your mind and heart. You seem like a very nice person who just happens to be having a hard time right now. It is going to take time to accept what has happened to you; don't rush it. You may never accept what has happened to you, but if you have God in your life, He WILL make a way to make it much more bearable, and you can always turn to Him whenever you are struggling. He will never, EVER leave you! He knows your heart, and He knows you are in pain. All you have to do is ask for His help; He WILL make a way! :)
Please do take care, Ellen, and know that if you ever want to write, I am as close to you as my computer or the phone (but don't use the phone until the storms have passed! :) ). Seems that we are in for a storm here; just looked out my office window, and it is gettin' mighty ugly out there. So I'd better scoot before I get fried! (I DO want to get to Heaven, but I don't want to go just yet! *grins*)
God bless you, Eileen, and write back soon! Love you!
(((HUGS))) and much love, your friend in Tennessee, Louie May. :D
P.S.: I will be praying for you and Wayne! :) All the best to you both! :)
There have been some wicked tornadoes today in the Mid West, especially Missouri and Arkansas, three dead reported...:)may the Lord have mercy on their souls, Karen !
Your shining compassion and faith in the Almighty shines through in this remarkable pen, remarkable for its frankness, candour and honesty, in your life giving gifts to fostering handicapped orphans !
I'll pray you also are given a high hedge of protection from these dervish twisters !
Blessings
Peter
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