So, I did the only thing left that I knew how to do. I blogged. I wrote her letters. Here and here.
And a couple of months later I received an email from a woman whom I had never met, who lived in another state, and who I had no connections to. Tearfully I read that her and her husband had decided to adopt the little girl I had been praying for relentlessly. Liliana was going to have a family.
I have followed their journey on facebook and on her mother's blog. I have read everything I could about them. I have stalked their pictures, getting an idea of who Liliana's mom, dad, and four siblings would be.
With every picture I clicked on, with every facebook post blog entry I read, and with every video I saw I knew in my heart of hearts that long before time God had picked this family out to be her's. He had known that Liliana would be born to people that for some reason could not take care of her. He knew that she would travel from orphanage, to special care center, to foster home. He knew that she would one day sit in my lap. He knew that two people's hearts would be broken by her picture. He knew that these two people would bring her into their family. He knew the hardships that she has endured and that she will continue to go through. He knew that her parents would be the right ones to guide her. He always had her in his hands and he always will.
I have realized a truth. No matter who I talk to, what I blog, or what I feel it is not me who gives orphans hope; it is simply and only God. God is the one and only reason that today Liliana is with her forever family.
In my previous blog posts I wrote Liliana letters to communicate how I felt. I figured I would do the same today:
Dear Liliana,
Today I saw you in a video. It's the first time that I have seen you move since I held you in my lap two years ago. Today I am no longer separated from you by an ocean, but by a few states. But today I don't matter. Today you are with your family.
A couple of nights ago I had dreamed about you. I dreamed that you were crying and I went to comfort you. But as I held you in my arms you called you "Daddy!" and you reached out for your dad. He held you in his arms and it was there that you were comforted.
So, my heart is full of delight because I know that from tonight on you will have someone to always hold you, love you, and comfort you. However, I continue to pray that one day you will allow your heavenly father to comfort you. Because it is in Him that you ultimately find true rest, healing, peace, and comfort.
I feel as if I know you, but I honestly don't. So, I am praying for the person that you are and the young woman that you will become.
There are some things that I have learned so far in my life that I want to impart to you...Cling to what is good. Hate what is evil. Do not be polluted in this world. Let your beauty be from the hidden person of your heart, which is of great worth in God's sight. Love your parents even when you don't agree with them. (You have some of the best in the whole world) Spend as much time with your siblings as you can. Watch Princess Diaries. Find a passion or two. Read A Voice in The Wind. Find your identity in the one who made you. Travel as much as you can. Dig into God's word. Find a good group of friends. Don't care about boys too much. Enjoy God's beauty. Love life.
I know that perhaps our paths will never cross again. But, just know that as you live life I am praying for your life and know that I am especially praying that one day we can be sisters in the family of God.
Love,
Sarah
