You Don't Have To Be An Angel To Sing Harmony

When Jesus heard this, he told them, "Healthy people don't need a doctor--sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners."

- Mark 2:17

We talked about this a little bit last post, but I really want to touch up on it again, because I think it's really, really important. 

We are not good people. We are not AMAZING people. We are JUST PEOPLE. 

People JUST LIKE YOU. 

We live on a budget of around $2,200 a month. WE ARE NOT RICH.

Our house is 1,092 square feet. WE DON'T LIVE IN A HUGE HOUSE.

We love Jesus, but we are still human. WE HAVE FLAWS.

Yes, what we are doing is in a lot of ways selfless, but so is volunteering at a food bank, or cleaning your neighbors house, or being a shoulder to cry on, or donating blood or doing ANYTHING that thinks of another persons interests before your own. You don't have to make lots of money to adopt a child, you don't have to have the biggest house either. You just need to be willing. I think we have this stigma when we read about other people's stories that they are "so good" and that WE could NEVER do something like that. It is easy for us to feel that way when all we read are weekly snapshots of a person's perspective. 

But, if you had to be an "amazing person" to adopt, I know I personally would not qualify. My resume is less than impressive. I've done hurtful things to people, I've had hurtful things done to me. I snap at Eva sometimes when I run out of patience, and I am not always kind or gracious to my husband. Some days I would rather have a margarita on a beach somewhere than deal with my responsibilities, because I can be very lazy. I struggle with pride. I have a lot of things in my past I am not proud of. I tend to get jealous, I envy a lot of things others have, and I think mean thoughts about others way more than I should.  

I am a sinner. Or at least I was, I still sin ALL-THE-TIME,  but I am a Saint now (because of Jesus people, not because of me) but if I was left to do my own will, you wouldn't find anything "good" in my life. Of course I am not using that as en excuse, I DESIRE to be the woman God wants of me. In fact, I have a tattoo on my wrist as a constant reminder that my DEEPEST desire is to be a woman of God, I use it to help me fight sin. Sometimes I lose. I don't LIKE that I sin, I don't want to continue to sin, I am just acknowledging that I do in fact sin. A lot. I need lots of help and prayer just to make it through the day sometimes, I am not supermom, TeJay is not superdad, he too will tell you he has many things he isn't proud of in his past. 

We. Are. Just. People. 

Just like you. 

I bet we've watched the same movies, read the same books, and like the same foods (unless you like beans, then you are on your own). We are not alien hybrids who are amazing and flawless people, we are just as screwed up as the rest of you.

You don't have to be perfect to change the world. You don't have to sit in solitary confinement chanting and praying for 97 days to do a God's will. In fact, I strongly recommend you don't. Your life will be pretty boring and I doubt you will get closer to Jesus. 

If we could all get PAST the false viewpoint that to be close to Jesus, you have to have all of your ducks in a row and that to get involved you have to have a clean resume-then we could really make a difference. 

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."-Matthew 11:28 

Notice that it doesn't say "please sacrifice 7 things you love for 96 days, pray 82 times a day for 5.7 minutes, don't lie or sin or think bad thoughts for 3 months before you even THINK about asking me for anything. And above all, fix yourself before coming to me."

No, He says COME to me. As you are. Imperfect, screwed up, nasty thoughts, jacked-up self and all. That is the you I want, that is the you I desire to change by MY power-not yours. 

If you are willing to be used by God, He will use you and succeed in doing so.

So, my plea with you friends is this-get involved! It doesn't have to be with us and helping out our adoption. Please just don't ignore that we live in a broken and hurting world. Find a way to get plugged in and change that, even if on a small level. There are lots of ways and tons of places you can do it, overseas or in your own back yard. 

The world cannot change with a handful of people doing extraordinary things, but it can change with millions doing very ordinary things. 

If we all chose selflessness once a month, or a week, or a day instead of buying a need pair of pants, or a new movie, or sushi, or whatever, we as a people could literally change the world. 

Isn't that a wonderful thought?

FINANCES AND PROGRESS:

This morning we had what we hope was our last home study meeting, I tell you Dee is so wonderful. She is so kind and encouraging and we have been lucky to work alongside her. We are HOPEFUL that she can get the rough draft emailed tomorrow and then we can go on the wait list as early as Friday. WOOP WOOP!

As far as finances go, we are doing alright! See our thermometer over there? Proof that God is good and so are His people! We still have about 16k left to go, but if we sell our boat we will be nearing the finish line!


In the mean time, we have a H-U-G-E fundraiser coming up June 8th. We are 97% ready to share details on how to get involved, we are just waiting for one or two more pieces to fall into place, so check back in the next few days! You won't regret it!

Until next time, MUCH LOVE!

-TeJay, Ashleigh, Eva and Baby H.