Red Envelope Day - March 31

This coming Tuesday is the day that we got our referral for Meg. I can't believe it was just one year ago that we didn't know her at all. She was a deep longing in my heart and a child with no one to love her. That breaks my heart! To think of the state she was in and the unfulfilled potential in her just one year ago, what her days were like, what her nights were like, she was on her own. She was unloved this time one year ago. Such a short time in the grand scheme of things, but what a long way from where she was. She is now cherished and loved and adored and meeting and exceeding every expectation we had for her, less than one year later.

A fellow blogger and adoptive parent, Heather, sent me information today on the Red Envelope campaign and I thought it was SUCH a perfect way to honor Meg and commemorate her anniversary date of us receiving her referral. I remember so vividly the moment I got that call from Carol at CSS and opened my e-mail to see this little photo.

I remember sending to Brian and Michelle and jumping around. And then sending it to our beloved pediatrician. I remember where I was the minute he called us back and almost every detail of what he told me about her and his thoughts on whether or not we should move forward (which probably didn't matter much by then, we were already in love.) I remember it all. And it stops my heart to think that her biological mother, the one who gave her life, the one thing I could not have given her, had another "choice", an "option" was available to her that would have changed the course of my life forever. And I am thankful every single day that there are women in situations so difficult I could never comprehend them, yet they choose to give their children a chance. All it took for Meg was a chance at life. God redeemed her. And He redeems the ones that seem, by worldly standards, to be forgotten too. Their miracles look different than Meg's miracle. And we don't understand it, really, we can't comprehend how a child in an orphanage or homeless, or born addicted to drugs, or into poverty, or completely alone in the world with no orphanage to go to could be anything other than a mistake. But that's because we think in the terms of earthly standards. We think of the little portion that we know as humans. We don't understand with a heavenly understanding, we don't see the big picture, we see through fog, but someday we will see clearly and we will stand shoulder to shoulder rejoicing in heaven with all the unborn victims of "medical advances" and "women's rights." We will see the cost of "choices" and we will praise God, even as we realize our ignorance and hang our heads in shame! And miraculously, at the same instant, we will receive freedom from our shame and we will be forgiven and covered in grace and mercy. I don't understand it, it's beyond my comprehension, but I know it will happen, I believe it!

But in the meantime, though I don't believe the hearts of men can ever be changed to the extent that abortion would be abolished. I have such a little amount of faith, not in God, but in men's willingness to make hard decisions that are against their own comfort and the main stream flow, that I don't think we will ever win this fight against death. And at the same time, I guess my lack of faith limits God's ability to truly change the hearts of men, for whatever reason, He requires our faith to act. But I believe that God holds me accountable if I don't try. He expects me to voice my opposition and stand up for what He has put on my heart. And this is such an easy way to make a big impact. Can you imagine the affect of thousands of red envelopes showing up at the White House? The President may not suddenly become pro-life, but someone in the mail room might take a longer look at an old belief. Someone in that mail room, or office, might be at a "decision point" in their own pregnancy and make a different choice. We never know, don't need to know, the long reaching arm of God in the small actions we take, it's only important that we follow what is required of us. We sew the seeds, He cultivates the harvest! And this is one time that we can count the cost, it's less than 50 cents! Please join me. And if you don't have an adopted child of your own to do this for, I would be honored if you would write Meg's name on that envelope, somewhere, and join me in commemorating the anniversary of her referral. The details are below:

Red Envelope Day

Barack Obama spoke at a Planned Parenthood Action Fund event during his campaign, uttering the now infamous line, "Well, the first thing I'd do as president is, is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. [Applause.] That's the first thing that I'd do."An empty red envelope will send a message to President Barack Obama that there is moral outrage in this country over this issue [The Freedom of Choice Act, which will essentially "undo" every law currently in place to limit abortion in the U.S. (i.e., parental consent laws, parental notification, waiting periods, prohibition of transporting a minor girl across state lines to obtain an abortion, etc.)]. It will be quiet, but clear.

Please read more about The Freedom of Choice Act here:

http://www.lifenews.com/nat4359.html

http://www.barackobama.com/2008/01/22/obama_statement_on_35th_annive.php

http://www.jillstanek.com/archives/2008/07/one_year_annive.html

Here is what we can do:

Get a red envelope. You can buy them at Kinko's, or at party supply stores.

On the front, address it to

President Barack Obama

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW

Washington , D.C. 20500

On the back, write the following message. "This envelope represents one child who died because of an abortion. It is empty because the life that was taken is now unable to be a part of our world."

We will mail the envelopes out March 31st, 2009 -- just put them in the mail that day from wherever you live.Please forward this event to every one of your friends who you think would send one, too. And they can in turn forward the information to their mailing lists. I wish we could send 50 million red envelopes, one for every aborted child who died [in the U.S.] before having a chance to live. It may seem that those who believe abortion is wrong are in a minority. It may seem like we have no voice and it's shameful to even bring it up. Let us show our President and the world that the voices of those of us who do not believe abortion is acceptable are not silent and must be heard.The Lord may use our simple collective showing to begin to change the heart of our President and others on this issue. Thank you.

"On that day, tell your son, 'I do this because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.'" Exodus 13:8 (I do this for what the Lord did for me when I came out of Russia, three times, clutching a discarded life and thanking God every minute for it!)