Shakespeare wrote, “Every new morn… new orphans cry, new sorrows slap Heaven on the face.” In a way, he was right. Their cries do slap Heaven, because their pain is the antithesis of everything Heaven holds.
A friend told me her adopted son was given a last name at his Chinese orphanage. In fact, his was the same name given to all of the children: “One of Many.”
Imagine if your nametag said “One of Many.”
Where Heaven knows each of us by name and has given us a new, unchangeable identity “hidden in Christ, who is in God” (Col. 3:3)–orphans’ identities are determined by orphanages; by nametags that say they are only one of 140 million other children with no true homes. Is there a single place on earth that shows how far we are from Eden, more so than an orphanage? Because of sin, we live in a realm of death; because of death, we live in a place where there are orphans. If it weren’t for death, there’d be no such thing as a parentless child. God did not make a place in Eden for orphanages.
But in the face of injustice, death, and the fact of a world brimming with vulnerable, home-less children—Heaven is not silent. It was the poet-king, David, who wrote, “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord… Behold, He… will neither slumber nor sleep.” (Ps. 121)
God is not asleep. Neither is He silent. He calls His Church to be a home to the fatherless; to wrap their arms around these children as defenders.
Every year, one Sunday in November is dedicated to these children. On this day, churches throughout the world are encouraged to spur their congregations to pray for these children; to seek ways so that—instead of just hearing the orphan’s cry—we might hear and run to help.
In preparation for Orphan Sunday (November 6th this year), MomLife Today will be hosting a series of guest authors writing about their experiences with adoption, fostering, and getting their church involved in orphan ministry. Even if you aren’t called to adopt, there are countless other ways to serve, pray, and support these children.
Because no organization has the power to help these children like the Church does.
Helpful Links:
- Learn how to get involved in providing hope
- Get a free DVD from Cry of the Orphan, on adoption, orphan ministry, and inspiration on how to help
Editor’s Note: November is National Adoption Awareness Month, and many are working together to raise awareness for these children who are close to God’s heart. Join us next week and all November long as we focus on this important issue. We’ll be featuring adoptive and foster moms throughout the month and ways that you can make a difference. We may not all be called to adopt, but we are all called to action.
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