Ethiopia, Here we come!

Last Friday we received our court date and will be in Ethiopia mid-April.  I'm not going to give any more details than that just in case you're the type who will come to my house and rob it.  Since Friday we've been looking for the best air routes to take us to meet our son, scheduling home study update visits, scheduling education phone calls, and making arrangements for our older kids for when we're out of country.  It seems weird even saying that:  out of country. 
Finally, after over a year, we're going to meet our son.  I've so enjoyed the pictures we've received after fellow-sojourners have returned from HH.  He appears to be well and even thriving.  Now it's time for Mama to check it out, herself.

Every week for my job, I publish a newsletter for the ministry department I oversee for our church.  On the 2nd page, I try to include a personal reflection.  This is what I included, today.  It has nothing to do with the adoption.  It is, however, in relation to something deeply personal that's happening in a relationship outside my family.  Namely this:  My best friend is moving away.  We've lived in Lincoln for about 10 years, and she's the best friend I've made in that time.  I adore her.  And God's moving her hours away from here.  I'm almost at the point where I can say it outload without tearing up.  Almost.  This type of writing is helping me process my emotions.  Thanks for your understanding.

Then Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped, saying:

Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will leave this life.
The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away.
Praise the name of Yahweh. Job 1:20-21

Corrie Ten Boom said it well: Hold everything in your hands lightly, otherwise it hurts when God pries your fingers open.

That’s the type of quote that we can all read, nod in agreement, and say, Yes, she’s so right.  That’s the right attitude, Corrie. Way to go, Sister. 

Until it’s from us that God takes away.  Can we say it when it’s us?  Can we both tear our robes and fall to the ground in worship?   I’m amazed by Job 1:20-21.  Perhaps, however, even more amazing is Job 1:22:
Throughout all this Job did not sin or blame God for anything. 

He didn’t blame God?  The LORD took away… Job mourned; he cried; he suffered intensely… and yet Job didn’t place blame.  He worshipped. 

I did a quick search on biblegateway.com to verify this assumption, and I think it’s true:  Worship and sacrifice are VERY, VERY tied together.  When we can still worship at a point of loss, that is truly a sacrifice of praise.   

Some other really smart person said: All things belong to God, absolutely, to be given as a gift, not a claim, to be taken back without wrong. There is no talk of human 'rights.' The Lord is the sovereign owner of all, and Job rejoices in this wonderful fact.