Rarely do I remember exactly where I met a person for the first time. And there there are those meetings that make such an impact, that the memory never leaves. Fifteen years ago, in a upper room at a TGIFriday's restaurant that has since been torn down, I met someone who made such an impact on me...I remember our first meeting like it was yesterday. It was a Mom's night out event sponsored by a committee that I worked on. These mom's shared one thing in common....they faced the daily challenges of raising a child with special needs.
And that is where I first met Sue. We had four children by then...which seemed like alot at the time. As I rushed around greeting people who had come to one of our events for the first time...I remember looking for an open seat so that the program and dinner could begin. I found a spot next to Sue...I had longed to make a connection with another Mom that night...it can be a lonely road parenting multiple children with special needs. Sue was quiet. I remember how beautiful she was...the sense of peace and contentment was evident all around her. I was such a wreck...I thought for a moment that maybe she was one of the Mom's who really did have it all together. I wasn't sure if I was going to find much in common with this Mom.
And then we began to talk. She was an adoptive mom of children with special needs....lots of children with special needs. She didn't immediately give the numbers...the numbers of children that her and her husband had rescued from orphanages in Korea and China...but it was in the double digits. She has a humble spirit...and it was clear that she was not interested in praise from people..she was serving the Lord. From the first day I met Sue, I knew she was powered by energy and strength from her Savior..not from within herself. She didn't even try to do it on her own...her faith was her stronghold.
I wanted to be just like Sue. I knew God was calling me in the same direction as he had called her...but I had no idea that we would be the family with the number of children that reached double digits. She inspired me to believe that the dreams I had been given my God were attainable. Over the years, we laughed about this crazy addiction we had...loving the orphan..and both of our families continued to grow.
And today, she is hurting. She is suffering in grief after the loss of one her precious children. He was 18 years old when he passed away suddenly over the weekend. My heart is broken for her. My heart cries out for God to surround this family with comfort that defies explanation. When we live for Christ, there is nothing safe about it. Suffering will come. Sue and her husband reached out to the "least of these." They adopted children who were waiting..suffering themselves. They counted the costs and decided it was worth it all.
But today they are so numb...so deep in grief. I love them so. They have taught me so much not by their words but through their quiet servitude. I pray that God ease their suffering today...that He give them glimpses of eternity that will bring them comfort and peace. Things will never be the same in their household. And I pray that they will find strength in their brokeness today.
