Adopting a three year old from Ethiopia is already an amazing adventure. Yet it is also a journey filled with genuine challenges and difficulties. Most are like the challenges facing all parents, while a few are unique to adoption, especially when child comes from so different a culture and context.
Being three, Micah has fully developed his Amharic language speaking skills. The little chatter box is never without something to say. As wonderful as this is, his inability to understand everything we say to him often leaves him confused, frustrated and even upset. Combine that with the logic of a toddler and the “fun” begins. Even given the fact that I better recognize the barriers and a much higher capacity to understand him than he me, my words don’t always make it through his limited abilities to make sense of the world around him. While using his own language is helpful, even that doesn’t always bridge the gap.
In the end, actions speak louder than words. Stroking his hair as he cries at night. Tickling his belly as we play in the backyard. Even yanking him to safety as he makes a dangerous lunge off the sidewalk. He doesn’t always appreciate these non-verbals and sometimes he doesn’t always know what they mean. However, the loving presence of his parents shape- in joy and discipline- the person he is becoming whether he understands it or not.
I think, perhaps, our experience with God is very similar. Our own logic and understanding are perfectly clear to us, yet in light of the infinite nature of who God is, we are far more simple than any three year old. God uses language familiar to us, communicating His loving truth in ways we can start to understand and embrace. And yet, while not devaluing Scripture in the slightest, even the Bible is hugely limited in its ability express the fullness of our infinite Creator.
Again, actions speak louder than words. The presence of His Spirit- both in our being and through the community of faith- comforting us in the midst of brokenness and suffering. Celebrating our lives through new life, hope, peace and goodness. Even pulling us up short by the conscience when we begin to make choices apart from His greater good and perfect will. We don’t always appreciate these non-verbal queues and sometimes we don’t even recognize them when they happen. However, the loving presence of our Father God shape- in both joy and discipline- the people we are meant to be, whether we understand it or not.
And so, if this loving, gracious and long-suffering God extends Himself to us, how much more should we extend to those in the world around us? While not paternalistically (as only God is our Father), we need to both communicate and demonstrate the Good News in ways that are best understood by our neighbours. With actions speaking louder than words, we must match the proclamation of the Gospel with the embodiment of the love, grace and patience that is our God.
I know that this is difficult. Tired from sleepless nights and defiant tantrums by my boy, I can become easily cranky, short and impatient. If I can become this way with my own child, how much more will I be with strangers who God has entrusted me to loving alongside Him? And so grace and humility and the loving support of a Spirit-filled community is so necessary.
Thank you, Father God. I pray that I will be a son worthy of bearing the name Christian.
