I called my nine-year old son back to me as I often do with
the reminder, “You didn’t give me my hug!” Feigning reluctance but hiding a
grin, he shuffled back to the couch and reached out his long arms. As he we
held each other he hesitantly asked, “Mom, can you pray with me?” Of course!
He folded his lanky frame into my lap as I asked, “What do
you want me to pray for?” To which he replied, “No, I am going to pray! But I
want you to pray with me.”
It was the end of a sensitive evening. He and I with his two
older sisters had watched a movie depicting the tragedy and triumph of a group
of Sudanese “Lost Boys.” Afterwards we discussed the reality of those
experiences and reflected once again on the mystery of God’s allowing our son, born
to a Sudanese refugee in the United States, to be adopted into our family.
On the 10th birthday of each of our children, I
have sought to fill in additional blanks of their adoption stories as best as I can.
The time seemed right to share some of what I have learned with him. He
listened carefully and asked questions seriously, with occasional nervous
giggles. Eventually we finished and he headed to bed. As he started up
the steps, I called him back to me.
Snuggling his face close to mine, he prayed. He thanked God
for a good day at church today, and for his sister’s upcoming birthday on
Saturday. Then he made a sincere plea. “Please help my birth brothers and
sisters know Jesus.”
Precious heart! What a moment to treasure with my cherished child. I trust we will one day see the answer to his tender prayer.
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| After the movie, he wanted to see the South Sudan flag. He promptly sketched it in his notebook so that he would remember. A short while later he commented, "If I ever get to Sudan, I am going to take lots of cream!" He was sincerely concerned in one part of the movie where after walking hundreds of miles with little to no water, the little boys' faces understandably looked as though they could use some moisturizer. My sweet, funny O. |
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