A passage from Hebrews that I hold
close to my heart says this:
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. . .” Hebrews 12: 2.
Another version of scripture calls Him
“the;perfecter;of;our;faith.”;Jesus;is;walk-
ing;right;with;us.;He;is;guiding;us.;But
look;at;what;the;beginning;of;this;verse
says, “Looking unto Jesus.” We have to
keep;our;eyes;fixed;on;Jesus.;I;love;the
account of Peter walking on water. It
was;when;he;kept;his;eyes;fixed;on;Jesus
that;he;could;walk;on;the;water.;It;wasn’t
until;he;took;his;eyes;off;of;Jesus;that;he
began;to;sink.;It;was;when;he;took;his
eyes;away;from;Jesus’;eyes;that;he;began
to notice the chaos of the storm and the
waves that were being driven and tossed
by the wind. He noticed life away from
Jesus! How often do we do that? How of-
ten;do;we;take;our;eyes;off;of;Jesus;and
begin drowning in our situation with our
broken;child.;The;beauty;of;brokenness
with Jesus is that it can;be;fixed.
“He healeth the broken in heart, and
bindeth up their wounds,” Psalm 147: 3.
Isn’t;that;a;beautiful;picture?;So;not
only;will;God;heal;your;brokenhearted
child and bind up his wounds, He will
also;take;you;and;your;brokenness;and
bind;it;up!;We;can;go;from;broken;to
beautiful through Jesus Christ. And we
can;take;our;children;through;this;same
journey.
I don’t come to you giving you the
quick;fix.;I;am;sorry;to;tell;you;that;there
is;none.;But;I;can;tell;you;as;a;mother
of;fifteen;beautiful;blessings,;twelve;of
whom have been adopted, that I have
seen the healing power of Jesus Christ.
When you begin to see your child with
a;heart;of;flesh,;the;way;God;sees;him,
you will begin an entirely new journey.
Armed with your shield of faith and the
sword of the spirit, this battle can be won.
Remember;to;take;each;day,;each;hour,
each minute, each second, each moment
with;your;eyes;fixed;on;Jesus.;He;will;at-tune your hearts to see, hear, and experi-ence;tender;mercies;that;you;never;knew
existed!;We;walk;this;journey;together;as
pilgrims,;seeking;God;to;not;only;heal
our own stony hearts, but the patched up
and;broken;hearts;of;our;children.
Sonya Schweighardt
Sonya has been married to her college
sweetheart, Russell, for 22 years. They have
been blessed with 15 amazing children ( 3
birthed from the womb and 12 birthed
from the heart). Sonya is an adoption
advocate and speaks both on pre and post
adoption issues. You can follow her blog:
www.respondinginfaith.com. She is available for adoption retreats and conferences.
Endnote:
1.;biblehub.com/sermons/pub/the_stony_heart_
removed.htm.
www.TheOldSchoolhouse.com
Five Steps to Bring a Child Through Grief
Adopted;children;may;grieve;the;loss;of;their;birth;family.;It;is;important;to;take
them through the grieving process in order for them to move forward in the healing
journey.;Using;God’s;Word;through;this;journey;is;essential.;The;Word;speaks;to;the
heart of the child to bring true healing.
The stages of grief are:
•;Denial:;shock,;numbness,;and;disbelief.
•;Anger:;anger;toward;loved;ones,;others,;God,;the;world,;and;themselves.
•;Bargaining:;desiring;that;their;life;could;be;the;way;it;was;before,;even;if;it;was
abusive and unhealthy.
•;Depression:;feeling;the;pain,;loss,;grief,;and;sadness.
•;Acceptance;and;Forgiveness:;the;loss;is;still;there,;but;the;child;is;ready;to;forgive
and to move forward with his or her life.
•;God;heals;the;brokenhearted;child;(Psalm;147: 3).
•;Your;child’s;cares;are;to;be;cast;upon;God;( 1;Peter;5: 7).
•;Release;the;pain;and;fear;into;Jesus’;hands;(Luke;4: 18).
•;God;will;give;your;child;rest;(Matthew;11: 28-30).
•;Pray;with;your;child;and;for;your;child;(James;5: 16).
•;Inner;healing;is;possible;(Romans;8: 32).
•;Extend;forgiveness;(Mark;11: 25-26).
This;is;a;spiritual;battle;for;your;child’s;soul.
Each day you must suit up with the armor of God.
