Brother - Where are You?

For any of you who believe that this devotional is carefully thought out and planned in advance, please know I walked into my office this morning and asked our administrative assistant to give me a topic for my writing this morning. Her immediate response, "Patience."

Technically, patience is an easy topic to suggest for a devotional. It is an issue with which everyone struggles. But it just so happens that our family is currently dealing with a specific lesson in patience and we could use your prayers.

In addition to our granddaughter, Hannah, we have two grandsons who live in Missouri (Kaden and Hunter). Being a huge fan of grandchildren, my desire is to have as many as my children are willing to provide me. Stormi and David (Hannah's parents) have decided to once again contribute to my grandchild pool, but they are choosing to do so through adoption.

Almost a year ago they finished the rather lengthy process to be licensed to adopt a child out of the foster care system. Their criteria is pretty broad. They are willing to take a boy between the ages of three and ten and are even willing to negotiate on the ages. They are willing to consider siblings . (I vote for that!) They have no preference on race or combination of races. And they are willing to take a child with moderate emotional or learning issues.

We refer to him as Brother.

Jerry and I took CPR classes during session last year, along with other extended family, expecting Brother to be in the family by summertime. Then Labor Day passed and Halloween. We were certain Brother would celebrate Thanksgiving and then Christmas with us. But, still no Brother. My patience is wearing thin, but it is in great shape compared to Stormi's.

There are over 13,000 children waiting for adoption in the Texas foster care system. We only want one - maybe two. Just what is the holdup?

Well, there are all kinds of answers to that question. Many of them have to do with the efficiency of government systems. But, we are comforted by the fact that all things work in God's perfect timing. And, as James 1:2 reminds us to count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces patience.

So, while we are standing around counting our joy over this delay in getting Brother, please pray with us that we learn everything we are supposed to learn while we wait. Also, pray that Brother is in a safe environment, loved and cared for in his current foster care situation.