You Are Known and Set Apart

I had it on my heart to blog something today, but as I sat in front of my computer, hands on the keyboard, the words didn't come. At first I tried to think of some stories of things the boys have done; then I thought about finding some inspiring story, but neither of those amounted to much.

So I sat.

After a few minutes of sitting I said to myself, "Why not play a little game of bible roulette?" And so I did. I opened my bible and flipped through the pages, hoping to land on something profound, and that is when my eyes fell on the following verse:

Jeremiah 1:5a
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart;"

I want to take a moment to pick this apart because it is so powerful, and speaks volumes about God's love. And while this verse relates to all of His children, I am going to relate its significance to our daughter.

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you

I can't help but wonder what our daughter is doing right now....aside from sleeping, because it is the middle of the night in most parts of Russia. But, what are her days like? Is she happy? What kind of food does she like? Does she interact with other children, or does she prefer to be alone? Does she receive the proper amount of love and nourishment? When she goes to bed at night does she rock herself to sleep, alone in her bed?

While her life, up to this point, has been tragic, she is not alone. Before her fragile little body ever experienced fear, loss, abandonment and institutionalization, God knew her. He knew what the early years of her life would be like, and yet, He considered her worthy.

Worthy....

Before you were born I set you apart

She doesn't know it yet, but her story is not an accident. Not at all! It was written before the foundations of the earth were laid. It just took a few thousand years before her story could be told.

I can only imagine what God was thinking that evening, 13 years ago, when I took the opportunity to babysit a little girl recently adopted from China. Did He smile as I walked up the steps and knocked on the door? Did He laugh as I tried to entertain that little girl, knowing that that experience would start a thread that would one day connect to the thread of a little girl in Russia.

A little girl that God knew.

A little girl that was set apart.



An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet regardless of time, place or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but it will never break.
Ancient Chinese Proverb