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Cold water

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Contributed by: Jared Keller on 5/15/2008

Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land. - Proverbs 25:25 (NIV)

We've been clinging to this particular Bible verse for quite some time now. We watch the news...our eyes darting about, trying to make sure there's no word about tectonic action in southern China. I try and avoid as much of the info as I can - whether in print or paper form - but so help me, I still manage to find each and every story about virus outbreaks, plagues of locusts, or political turmoil in and around Hong Kong, and thus, that now-familiar ache twists its way into my gut, and I'm left - once more - helpless.

It's not a great feeling for a husband and father. I'm a big guy. Though I'm a heck of a lot softer than I was at one time, I could still probably bench press my own weight. I've taken some pretty hardcore martial arts through the years (Kyokushin karate), and certainly would fancy myself a reasonably able protector of those I love.

None of this matters even a little bit right now.

I am singularly, wholly incapable of watching over my son. No matter how I much every fiber of my being cries out to scoop him up, cradle him in my arms, and bask in the warmth of a family where all four of its members are right where they should be (together), I sit...watching the news, and forever tightening my tenuous grip on the peace that flows from the certainty that God Himself made this boy for my family. I rest on the faith that the Creator of the universe itself wove together this little guy's personality, touched his eyes with the mischief that we see in the photos we've memorized, and appointed him to travel far from his homeland, to grow up in a family where he will be both utterly unique, and simply one of us.

I rest, until once more, the certainty that he is now thousands of miles away from my reach slaps the peace from my mind. I am, once more, desperate. In the midst of my day, my thoughts are continually rent apart with a call in my soul to pray for this boy...to petition God, and ask Him to bring us our Shan An Fei...our Will, and to do so quickly.

It is then - in those moments of fevered prayer - that I am once more reminded. Another verse speaks softly and insistently into my fear, and once more, I can rest. I'm not patient; not yet, anyway. The Wife™ and I still lie awake and wonder...but for a time, at least, I can rest. Because I pray for this child. And my God is big enough to embrace the both of us - my boy and I - no matter how many miles lie between us.

I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. - 1 Samuel 1:27 (NIV)

Let it happen soon.

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Submitted By: Barbara Neff

posted on 5/16/2008 @ 11:39:16 AM

Rated Story

Jared, this is beautiful. I thought of you and your family during news of the quakes in China. Yes, get the little guy home soon. Thank you so much for your willingness to share your family's journey.

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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Jared Keller

Littleton

Jared Keller has posted 455 stories and 62 comments since joining on 12/1/2005. Jared Keller 's average story rating is 4.85.

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