The Cry of the Orphan

Once you hear the cry of the orphan, you can never have a deaf ear.  It ressonates... constant... softly... everpresent.  I've yet to meet someone who hears the cry of the orphan, responds, and then hears no more.  Maybe that is the key to it... maybe you can hear the cry of the orphan, not respond and never hear it again, but once you hear the cry and respond, you always hear it. 

I am a biological mother as well as an adoptive mother.  I tend to think of the cry of the orphan in the same way I think of my biological son's cry.  Until I was expecting my son, every child sounded the same.  Each cry was the same.  I wondered how people could tell the cry of their child apart from others.  Until I had a child of my own, I almost thought they were just lucky.  They "guessed" when it was their child that was crying.  I learned very quickly after I had my son, that is not the case.  Each child has a different sound and each child is unique.

The cry of the orphan is much the same.  You hear it.  You wonder if it is meant for you.  You respond... DONE!  There is no turning back!  There are so many orphans in the world and their cry is loud.  I imagine that they wonder why no one is responding to them. 

It used to break my heart to think of my Anna in an orphanage crying with no one responding to her.  It's clear her needs were not immediately met when she cried.  The relief I felt when I had her in my arms, and I could meet her needs, was almost overwhelming.  My ears quickly turned to the others crying.  Anna was no longer crying, but many others were.  Now, Sara cries.  She will come home and cry no more - but what about the rest?  Who will hear their cry? 

I know I can only take care of so many on my own.  Someday I want to go and spend my time working in an orphanage... caring not just for one, but for many. 

Do you hear their cry?  Will you respond?

Adoption Update:
1.  Tickets are purchased.
2.  Work arrangements have been made
3.  Kids are taken care of while we are on trip one.

In Christ,
Charity