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Adeye Salem

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“why him?”

August 21, 2012 By Adéye

Today I met the sweetest little boy.

A little boy whom I have grown to love so passionately in my heart over the last few months.

A sweet one my arms have ached to hold.

A very handsome little guy born eight years ago and given the name “David” by his birth parents.

A very uncommon name for any Bulgarian citizen.  But to his Father in heaven–he is indeed “beloved,” as his name means.

David was put into the orphanage soon after birth and spent the first seven years of his life in a baby house.  “A good one,” I’m told.

Then, last September he was transferred!  A fate which no child should ever, ever be subjected to! 

And since that time, a horrendous mental asylum has been his prison (and it sure does look like one). The bars of a crib–the only home he knows.

Today I held this little boy in my arms and heard his full story for the first time.  My amazing attorney here has ached for this child–longed for him to find a family since 2007.

Since the inception of the Bulgarian adoption program in 2007, over 1800 child have been registered with the Minister of Justice in this country as being available for adoption.

David was Number Three!  The third child in Bulgaria to ever be registered for adoption!

At the young age of three, he was made available to any family who would love him as their own.

For five years he waited in a baby house.  And then in a mental asylum.  Hundreds and hundreds after him were chosen–now loved and cherished in families.

But no one came for him.

Then one day the God of the universe reached down from heaven and said, “NOT this one!  My “beloved” is NOT forsaken!”

“Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”  Isaiah 6:8

And so He began to ever so gently whisper to the hearts of an extremely average, nothing special, thought-a long-time-ago-they-were-quiver-full, often failing, totally unsuspecting couple.

And by His Spirit, He moved on their hearts, saying, “Trust me!”

“Trust ME!”

“Trust me with your fears.”

“Trust me with your concerns.”

“Trust me that I know what’s best for your family!”

And trust Him, they did!  Because in their fifteen years of marriage they can declare from the highest mountain that their God has been faithful, that He has never let them down.  Not once!

So very faithful.

With their fears from hearing sad stories about children adopted from this particular place, the knowledge that some have turned down referrals once they meet the children they came to adopt, with their many flaws, their shortcomings, their failures, and their doubts and concerns….”yes” was their answer!

Because God truly can use anyone to make a difference in the life of a child.  He never looks for perfect parents (take US, for example, the most imperfect ones), just those who are willing to trust Him on the journey.

Yes, Lord!

No matter what!

Sometimes there is not one good enough reason in the world to say no.

(Yes, Honey, I absolutely did examine each and every little toesie…because feet are just my thing, you know!)

Today I looked into the face of this little child and I saw my Jesus–Savior, Redeemer, Friend!  I realized once again that redemption never comes too late for precious ones such as these.  To the world, this little boy was written off completely. Rejected!  Abandoned in the worst place imaginable! Discarded because he was not considered perfect. When my attorney went back to the government officials and requested his file after we asked to see it…their response?

With a look of utter confusion on their faces, “Why him?”

Why him?

Well, it’s simple, really.

Because God never, ever forsakes his beloved!  Because there is hope for every orphan…no matter how long they have waited.  No matter what is “wrong” with them.

Today I held an eight-year-old little boy who is so extremely delayed in all areas of his life, cannot walk, cannot sit up alone (except being supported in a child’s chair), has terribly low muscle tone, is far too skinny, cannot eat solid food, and displays more institutional behaviors than I have ever seen in a child.

But….

He is “beloved.”

Treasured.

By his Father in heaven.

And by us!

Kael Salem…you are NOT forsaken!

You have been FOUND!

You, sweet boy, have been CHOSEN.

To us, you are absolute perfection.

Redemption!

It never comes too soon.

Nor does it ever, ever come too late!

With a heart overflowing with thankfulness tonight.  I’m so grateful that when God says, “Trust Me!” that I know with all my heart that I absolutely can.  My God never makes mistakes!

What a gift Kael is to our family!


Filed Under: Anthony

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Twelve years ago, I Skyped Anthony from my cold, d Twelve years ago, I Skyped Anthony from my cold, dreary apartment in Ukraine. I had just met our newest daughters and could not hold back the tears."I just don't know if I can be Hailee's mother," I told him that day. "I don't know if I have what it takes to parent her. What if I fail her?" I asked him through so many tears. I had just discovered that Hailee had been drugged with an adult tranquillizing drug for her entire five years of life. She could not handle being held, and she screamed for most of my visit. Being taken out of the only environment she knew--the confines of a crib--was absolutely terrifying. She pulled her ears until they were raw and infected. She banged her head on anything near to self-soothe. She could not eat solid food. At five years old, she weighed just eleven pounds. Back then, I questioned a million times whether I could be the mother Hailee so desperately needed me to be. I felt so inadequate for the calling. Goodness! It's been a journey! We have both grown and learned how to live our best life together. We've succeeded and we've failed. Looking back, Hailee has been one of my greatest teachers in this life. I have learned so much being her mom. But more than anything, I have seen the hand of a faithful, loving, merciful Father as I have shared my life with this little girl. And I have seen that when we give God our yes--so often afraid and unsure and positively terrified over all of the unknowns--He turns it into our greatest blessing. I just cannot imagine my world without this little darling in it. She keeps me on my toes, ensures that we are always laughing over something that she does, will dance with us day and night, and gives the very best hugs that make any hard day better. Today, on her seventeenth birthday, we count the enormous blessing that is Hailee. We thank God for the gift of this child who just makes life so much sweeter. Happy, happy birthday, sweetest Hailee! I am so, so grateful that twelve years ago, your precious Dad reminded me that I had what it took to be your mom. Because being your voice, your caregiver, your dance partner, your hugger, and your mom is, by far, one of my greatest delights in this life!
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