Oh my heart.

Oh my heart. 

Last month I had the opportunity of visiting two orphanages in Ukraine. My friend is in a the process of adopting an incredible young man around my age who has been trapped in a prison for his whole life. Sure, it’s not an actual prison but it might as well be. I’m so happy that this 17 year old is being adopted but my heart is broken for many reasons... Like the hundred of other boys and young men that I saw in that place that will never get the chance to be fully loved in family. Why did all of their parents abandoned them to this dreadful place? It’s because they have some kind of special needs. It seems they are looked upon as not fully human and not are not welcomed into society. These boys and young men have been trapped behind a wall their whole lives yet have so much potential. Oh my heart as I saw them sitting on benches rocking back and forth. Oh my heart, as a young with Down syndrome around man my age wanted to play soccer with me. I started to play with him and he didn’t want to stop. Oh my heart as a little boy smiled and made eye contact with me. Oh my heart as I see some of these guys so lifeless and hopeless. Oh my heart as I walk past this amazing bunch of people that I wish I could spent time just hanging out with. Then there was the girls orphanage. We pulled in and almost all of the girls that were able to run came runing over. I’ve never in my life seen a group of people so exited by something as simple as visitors. They almost immediately started grabbing my hand and taking me around. They just wanted someone to hang out with. They all had special needs but oh my goodness they were precious young ladies. They just like the boys orphanage have all been locked up behind walls losing their God given potential. How would anyone abandon such amazing people? Oh my heart as they held my hands just wanting attention. Oh my heart as they laughed at me. Oh my heart as they smiled at me. Oh my heart as I thought of all pain plain behind those beautiful smiles. But what I saw next my heart couldn’t take, it broke into two as I walked into a room. A room full of amazingly beautiful image bears of God. A room full of forgotten children and teenagers. A room full sadness and pain. I had to try to keep myself together but inside I was weeping. These girls have spent their entire life in a crib. Some of them are teens yet look like the size or toddlers. They just lie there day in and day out. I actually started to cry as I looked into the eyes of this girl. Her smile made my heart fill with pain and anger towards the situation she was in. Here is a precious child how doesn’t know life outside of her barred crib. Oh how my heart broke and hurt for her and the rest of them. Oh how my heart broke and hurt to think that their parents left them in this prison to die.

But OH HOW MY HEART BROKE AND HURT towards the Church. Why the church? Because we the Church are told to love our neighbors, care for the orphaned, and oppressed!!!! UGH nobody understands. WHY DOES NOBODY CARE??? Why aren’t we rescuing these children locked up in prisons???? Why does everyone always make up stupid excuses and reasons for why they can’t adopt. Do you even care??? Does the fact these kids are spending their life without a family not BREAK YOUR HEART? I’m pleading with y’all right now to look into these eyes and have your heart broken to the point of action. I’m begging y’all to PLEASE stop making up reasons not to adopt and start making a list of scripture commanding you to do something for the poor and oppressed! I’m pleading for y’all to have your heart broken for what breaks the heart of God!!! It’s time to rescue these precious children and stop living our selfish lives. I know this won’t be a liked post but my heart is too broken to not say anything. Go ahead hate and ignore me but PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don’t ignore the Word of God... James 1:27