Sunday, August 28, 2011

Attack

Note: Just before I was going to post this, I checked on Andrew, who has been sick, and noticed that he was sleeping but breathing very rapidly (almost like a dog panting). His ribs were also retracting, and I quickly decided that a trip to the ER was in order (no, I don't make a habit out of ER trips). Anyway, after one lung x-ray (clear), a dose of steroids, a breathing treatment, checking his breathing rate and oxygen levels five or six times (which both improved considerably after the steroids and breathing treatment), two prescriptions, and a diagnosis of croup (yes, I was right, but I'm not bragging) we were on our way.

In some ways I hesitate to post this, but in others I feel like I need to. If you know me personally, you know that I'm a pretty grounded and practical person. I'm not flighty by any stretch. I'm not the type of person that sees a devil around every bush. While I firmly believe that satan can and does attack people, I also think that some things go with the territory of life. Tires go flat, car batteries die, you forget everything you need for work one day . . . it's life, and we live in an imperfect world. Having said that, I've felt like since we got everything notarized and apostilled for our Dossier and ready to send off, the devil has been working overtime in the "attack" department.

The good news is the Dossier is on its way to Bulgaria. But y'all there have been a few times in this adoption process when I've felt fear so strongly that I could hardly think straight. It's not your run-of-mill everyday fear. It's an unnatural fear (and it usually hits around 2:00 a.m.). There is no other way to explain it. In the past two weeks, I've been not been feeling too great physically. Of course, some, if not a lot, of this probably has to do with the stress of being back at work, but another part of it just seems unnatural. To top it off, Andrew started out with a mild cold on Thursday and Friday and yesterday it suddenly ballooned into to fever, croup-type cough (I'm not a doctor so I won't say it's croup . . . . even though it's croup), and some vomiting. Andrew gets sick. He's a kid and kids don't have the greatest hygiene. But last night when I was lying in his bed with him and praying for him, the thought that we were/are being attacked was screaming in my head.

I firmly believe that the devil hates adoption. First, because it's a picture of what Christ has done for us. He has adopted us into His kingdom and called us His children. How beautiful is that? Second, because it takes a child out of a life with little hope and gives them hope. I believe that the devil does everything he can to discourage parents and try to bring them down and sometimes out-and out stop the process. But the thing is "greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world." (1 John 4:4)

I'm asking you to pray for us and with us today. We are nothing special but feel overwhelmingly that we are meant to be where we are and doing what we are doing. I ask you to pray for adoption families in general as they face the challenges, trials, and triumphs of this process.  I'm asking you to pray specifically for a little fellow named Danil. I don't know all the details, but I know that he is basically being denied adoption due to the specific name of his type of Down Syndrome. And finally, I ask you to pray for us to be strong and healthy physically, mentally, and emotionally and to have favor throughout this process.

Ephesians 6:10-18
The Whole Armor of God
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,[c] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints

1 comment:

Lisa said...

I agree with you. I have had some really stange setbacks in my life since I made the decision to adopt. For example, a friend recruited me to come work for her but, the job was cancelled at the last minute -- and after I had quit my job -- because of the company's emergency bankruptcy filing. The job and the woman who would have been my boss seemed to be perfect for a single, adoptive parent. I've been scrambling to find work since then. I have never had this happen before. Of course, without a job, I am stymied in my attempt to adopt. There's a little bit more; but, I do have the impression -- and I am a Christian but not apt to see demons under every rug -- that there's a spiritual attack at play. I'll pray that your adoption go forth smoothly nad quickly and with all obstacles removed.