this ache isn't going away

We spent time with Matt, our friend who was in Rwanda last week, and his wife, Kellie, for dinner last night to talk about his trip. Why don't I think about how painful these conversations are going to be?!

He was so gracious in remembering and sharing every detail of his time at Home of Hope (the orphanage from which we'll be adopting). But, of course, the details and reality for these children made all of us cry at the table. Yes, all four of us were crying. (Sorry...I can't/won't share more on the blog.)

We cried for our child, yes. But, the ache we feel isn't going away when this kiddo comes home. Our lives will be fuller, richer (perhaps harder, too) and this child's life will be radically different than it would be otherwise (mostly for good...but international adoption is a broken/imperfect answer to a broken world)...but even if everything goes perfectly for our family, there is still SO much brokenness, sadness, injustice and pain in the world. In that orphanage. In this neighborhood. In your life. And our aching isn't going to go away until Jesus comes back and fixes it ALL, as promised. I'm so thankful we're given a picture of what that will look like:

Revelation 21
The New Jerusalem Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

Thank you, Jesus, that you came to abolish death, suffering, mourning. Thank you that you ache just like we do. Thank you that you promise to wipe every tear. Just so you know, there are going to be lots, lots more tears from me.