Wednesday, August 29, 2007

prayer of the children

To me there is something almost sacred about rocking a baby to sleep. Holding all that innocence, all the trust in their eyes, feeling their body relax, watching their eyelids get heavier and heavier until they finally stay shut. That is heaven to me.

Why do Romanian orphans never get that?

Having a baby of my own has made my heart ache in ways that it never has before. I now am beginning to realize really how very much babies need a mommy and daddy.

Baby G is an angel, and truly is hardly ever just fussy. But still, he is a baby. And sometimes babies just need a little extra--

A few nights ago it was a little tricky to get Baby G to latch on and eat because he was both so tired and hungry that he couldn't quite figure it out.

Who takes that extra time for orphans?

When I went to lay Baby G down last night he woke up and immediately started to cry (which he normally doesn't do). I picked him up and he quickly buried his little face in my neck and fell fast asleep. He just needed an extra cuddle.

Who does that for orphans?

All the middle of the night feedings-- do orphans go hungry until morning?

Baby G gets uncomfortable and spits up if i don't burp him good enough. I can't remember ever once seeing anyone burp those orphan babies. Who does it? No one?




Why?


Why did my Baby G come to parents who adore him, who love him so much it hurts, who take care of his every need and want almost to a fault? And why was the Baby G in Romania born there, to parents who, for whatever reason, couldn't or wouldn't take care of him?

I have no answers. I don't think I'll ever come to terms with this horrific injustice in this lifetime.
But what I do know is that I'll keep holding my Baby G when he cries, I'll keep picking him up when he whimpers, I'll keep burping him long enough even in the middle of the night, and I'll keep loving him so much it hurts.

And I'll keep praying that somehow, by some miracle, someone is doing those same things for Baby G in Romania, too.

Va iubesc, copii fara mama.





Can you hear the prayer of the children on bended knee, in the shadow of an unknown room? Empty eyes with no more tears to cry turning heavenward toward the light.


Crying Jesus help me to see the mornin' light of one more day, but if I should die before I wake, I pray my soul to take.

Can you feel the hearts of the children aching for home, for something of their very own. Reaching hands with nothing to hold onto but hope for a better day, a better day.

Crying Jesus help me to feel the love again in my own land, but if unknown roads lead away from home, give me loving arms, away from harm.

Can you hear the voice of the children softly pleading for silence in their shattered world? Angry guns preach a gospel full of hate, blood of the innocent on their hands.

Crying Jesus, help me to feel the sun again upon my face? For when darkness clears, I know you're near, bringing peace again.

Can you hear the prayer of the children?
Lyrics written by Kurt Bestor

6 comments:

Sassy Rachel said...

Ok seriously you've made me a blubbering baby. Liz, uhhh... my heart just aches. I totally feel ya. That movie...rip my heart strings out. I miss them. I love you...completely...thank you for your example to me.

Emily said...

Bless our copii fara mama! How I love those sweet kids. Thanks for sharing your video and thoughts Liz. Afterwards, I had to go gaze at my sleeping baby in her crib...just makes me cherish her all the more.

alyssa said...

Thank you so much for putting that together. As life gets busy, the days start to go by before I realize that I have not taken a moment to think about Romania and the wonderful children that I met there. Thanks for helping me remember how much I love them.
Alyssa

mightybob said...

oh, how i ache for my little grasutele...

Abbi said...

Liz, this is so beautiful. I find myself thinking about Romania a lot recently. I miss the kids and the country so much. I wish I could go back, even if just for a day.

Congratulations on your new baby! He is so cute!! And you make the best mom. And thank you also for sharing that poem with me!!! I appreciate it so much. You're awesome. Let's keep in touch! Love ya!

Anonymous said...

It is comforting to know that there are good people like you in the world who are willing to look beyond themselves and help to lift others. Thanks for your example and God bless these little ones. Someday they will have their justice.
We hope all is well with the new house and baby G.
T,S,K,A,H,C,M