Monday, October 08, 2007

Officially Official (Long Post)

Well, the papers are on their way to St. Louis as I type these words. There really aren't words to describe what I feel knowing we have started the ball rolling. If I'm honest some of the words that come to mind are words like ~ fear, trepidation, insecurity, doubt and while this is the truth of what I sometimes feel the words that truly describe the nature of this journey are passion, love, hope, faith, amazement, joy and excitement and so you see those words out number the first set. Thank you for being on this road with us. We could never do it without the support of all of you.

I get have a devotional sent to my email everyday and today's was entitled Discipline or Regret?
This devotional was written by Jim Burns

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
— Hebrews 12:1-3

In the 1968 Olympics within the stadium in Mexico City, the stands had gone dark after an extremely busy day of some of the finest track and field events in the history of the Olympics. All that remained inside the stadium were a few judges, the clean-up crew and a handful of reporters who were filing their reports. All of a sudden out of nowhere, a runner in his country’s track uniform half hobbled and half ran into that great stadium. He was a marathon runner who was literally hours behind the official last place finisher. He ran around the track and crossed the finish line. One of the reporters ran down to the field to ask this runner why he bothered to finish the race since he was obviously hurting and no one would even count him as a finisher. The injured runner looked up at the reporter and said, “My country did not send me over 5,000 miles to start the race but rather to finish it.”

This man persevered, endured the pain and finished the race. What a hero! What do you need to do today to sustain your life, your faith, family, or health over the long haul? Is there something in which you need to wholeheartedly persevere to finish the race of life well?

Remember this great piece of advice offered to me by my good friend Bill Hall, “When the pain of remaining the same is greater than the pain of changing, you will change.” The way I figure it is that in life, we either choose the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. Choose today the pain of discipline.

This was really interesting to me b/c I know it will take major discipline to get through this adoption. And the part about when the pain of remaining the same is greater than the pain of changing... For some months now I have been asking God what is it you want me to do with my life, what is my purpose? What is OUR purpose? I know I'm a mom and a wife and I'm striving to be the best I can be but I knew there was something more. I had a sense of dissatisfaction. Little by little He's been showing me and Brian and guiding us. This adoption is just the beginning. There is so much more to come that has been birthed b/c of our passion to adopt a child in China. I thank God He is opening our eyes to it and as things progress will be sharing with you what else God has placed in our hearts.

Be blessed and please check back often.

2 comments:

Robin said...

God will bless you beyond measure for this leap of faith you have taken for him. Believe me when I say that this adoption process is definitely a faith builder,and for us, an eye opener to the plans God had for us.

Blessings on your journey. I'll definitely be following along.

Anonymous said...

Richie & I would like to say that Fear is one of the things that came to mind when we wanted to get Bryce. Because we thought can we really make this childs life better than it is now? But then God showed us that we can and that we shouldn't have fear we should have faith. And we did and still do. And now Bryce is about to be 2 and he is very smart! He's such a blessing from God! And everyday I wonder how could and how did God bless us with this amazing child? So we know if God can bring us Bryce than he will bring you Grace. The process was so hard but it worked out in the end. And as of Aug 24, 2007 Bryce became our for the rest of our lives!!

I love you Maciaszek family!! And sooner than you think you will be holding your baby girl saying "I cant believe we have you, how did God bless us with such an amazing little girl."

We are praying for you!! I love you guys!
The Moreno's