How Long, O Lord?

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and everyday have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Psalm 13.1-3

I occasionally have moments where the only thing I can utter is, “How long, O Lord?”

“How long does this family have to suffer?”
“How long does that child have to face disease?”
“How long does that person have to wander in hopelessness?”
“How long does this pain have to last?”
“How long does injustice, terrible injustice, heart-aching injustice get to win?”

I asked that last question early this morning as I was reading the blog of a very dear friend. I encourage you to take a moment to read Holly’s blog and let every unbelievable descriptor of the event sink in. As you do, I also encourage you to remember Jesus’ words, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”

http://hollybirdswords.blogspot.com/2014/10/we-were-next-at-checkout-line-when-she.html?m=1

At first, after reading the blog, I was incensed.

“How in the world does anybody spit on a child?!?!?!?!”

After spending a few minutes fired up, I took a deep breath and then found myself asking another question, “How can this happen to Jeff and Holly?! They are great parents who live the Gospel on a daily basis and they do not deserve to see their beautiful, sweet, and precious little girl go through that crap!”  Then, my emotions turned to sheer sadness, “What kind of world are we living in when an elderly man spits on a little girl because of her skin color?” Today was a day when I felt like we are fighting an uphill battle and desperately losing.

My feelings of anger and hopeless changed when I picked up the phone to call and express my anger and sorrow to Jeff and Holly. Oh, if only I could bottle up the hope and love that Holly expressed over the phone with me as she relived the incident! Holly’s words were not easy words. She spoke of the anger and heartache she felt, but then she started to describe the ways she advocated for her daughter.  I was quickly reminded of the hearts of Jeff and Holly; their desire to care for and love their little girl in a BIG, JESUS-LIKE WAY. Jeff and Holly are living, breathing examples of Jesus—people crazy enough to believe and act on his words of “Let the little children come to me.” After reading Holly’s blog, I was ready to pick a fight. After talking with Holly on the phone, I was ready to love a child.

Yes, there are days when I feel like we are losing. But, there are the Jeff and Holly Prossers of the world, Jesus-in-the-flesh-people,  who show me what it means to fight and make a difference for little children, the less fortunate, and anyone else who needs an advocate. They are why I can not only cry out “How long, O Lord?” but also the end of Psalm 13,

“But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me.”

(Want to know more of Jeff and Holly’s adoption story? Check out Holly’s book, “Colliding with Grace” which can be purchased online at amazon.com or tatepublishing.com.  If you decide to read her book, grab a few tissues and be prepared to hope.)