Pure Religion

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction. James 1:27

I have been taken aback by the amount of tears I have shed today just thinking about the depth and meaning of a godly father in the life of our children... particularly in the life of a child with a disability...or a child orphaned in this world. A child that had no one to stand in the gap for them and model what it means  to be cared for by a Father greater than one here on earth. A child that whose life could have been easily taken before it ever began with understanding by the public...because after all a disability in this world would decrease a quality of life...a child that may be a burden to it's family...it would be painful and the world tells us that pain should be avoided at all cost..  The tears have flowed immensely just thinking about what an incredible Father my husband is to his 11 children. I am having such trouble finding the words to describe what I want to say because I don't think they words even exist. He is just one of a kind...

Mark  shows strength in ways that are marked by quiet servitude...a quiet servitude that speaks volumes.  He works way beyond the time when he is too tired to do anything more. He gets up every night..every night at 2 am and 4 am to administer meds, give injections and wait until nebulizer treatments are complete.  Even when I get up and he could stay in bed, he still gets up to stand alongside of me when I am caring for the kids. Mark did not seek children to adopt who had other options. Instead, he has faithfully followed God's calling upon his life to seek out only those children who would have remained as orphans and who would most likely have died without a family to adopt them. Without regard for his own comforts, he stepped out in faith time and time again...
 And when he looks into their eyes, he sees Jesus reflected back...not disability or burden or fear for the future..just Jesus. And in that he rejoices in the privilege to feed one more child through a gtube, change one more diaper of an 18 year old and sit by one more hospital bedside when one of  his children is hurting. And he calls it all good.
He didn't worry about his own comfort, acquiring his lake cabin, building his dream home...Because his dream lies in carrying for the widow and the orphan...carrying for the least of these..the disabled and those that are seen as disposable in our society. This is where His treasure lies. And it is not just words...not just talk. He walks the walk and shines pure religion through each action.

Strength is not measured by the physical. It is not measured by athletic ability. Mark's strength is simple and profound. He could have avoided this difficult journey. He  did not have to  chose to this pain, discomfort or grief  when he accepted God's call in his life. Instead  he shows strength more than I have ever experienced because he was willing to walk into the fire for the sake of the least of the orphans...full well knowing what pain lay ahead. Knowing full well that he would rather walk into the fire with Jesus by his side then be taking it easy in the sunshine with out Him.
He has taught our children what sacrifice means...not just superficial, but giving it all for the sake of the gospel. Giving security, insecurities, fear, pride, and comfort all to God in exchange for the mercies that are provided to us each day.
Just like our God...who sure didn't choose to save  us because we were something extraordinary. God did not choose us because we had it all together and we were worthy of being saved. He chose to adopt us for his glory...it was in our unholiness that illuminates God's Divinity as it radiate in the skies.  The contrast is so great--the change so evident to others..because we had so far to go. It is in our weakness, that his power is perfected. And when he adopted us, it was not conditional...it was eternal for his glory. My husband has followed that example as he has led us to the children who are so lost and so alone.  So far from the "perfect" baby that most father's expect--any thing less seems like a betrayal from God.

But Mark has never seen it that way. He is an incredible father because He sees beauty where there is imperfection. He sees joy when there is sorrow near. He creates joy out of what seems to be an impossible situation because he draws upon his happiness from the love he has been shown from God. He acknowledges his imperfections and recognizes all of our need for a Savior.

He did not run from the cup of sorrow full well knowing that may be called to walk another child home to heaven. He has done it once and the pain has been deep. Our sweet son Evan, would have turned 5 years old tomorrow. And yet, sometimes worse than losing a child is the fear that a child with a disability may outlive his earthly Father...who will take care of this child if I am gone? And yet that fear did not stop my sweet husband. He presses on..
And He would do it all again....

It has been almost 20 years of being a father for Mark. He still goes to bed late, gets up early,  and sneaks in their rooms to hold them, pray for them and show God's infinite love for them. The tender hand of a Father on his children is a gift that will change this world. Mark is that kind of father.
And I know that he would agree with Mother Theresa that he is truly a rich man because....
"It is poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish."