Living Out the Heart of Jesus

Three years ago Bill and I left our six children to go after one Ukrainian princess named Katya.  

Although we left the six with trusted friends, saying "Good-bye" to them was one of the hardest things I have ever done.   


Katya came into our lives during the summer of 2008.  Bill and I had been in Ukraine that spring connecting with local church leaders and speaking at marriage conferences.  We also visited an orphanage and found our hearts tugged and our perspective change.  Orphans became real to us, not statistics or issues, but real children  without parents, without a home.  

Once back in the U.S., we heard about Katya, a Ukrainian orphan who had been approved to come to states for a few weeks that summer, but needed a host family.  We knew we were that host family. We welcomed Katya into our home and our hearts.  After our four weeks with her, Bill and I breathed and prayed.  In November 2008, we began the adoption process.

Nearly one year later in October 2009, we left the six to go after the one.  

For five weeks we chased papers, chased judges, and played with the orphans of Odessa #5. I cannot even begin to tell you how hard this was. But as hard as it was to be in Ukraine, it was nothing compared to being away from the six.  My heart literally ached for them.  

But, I knew, Bill and I both knew, that what we were doing was right.  We had a deep profound sense that we were living out the heart of Jesus.

During those weeks in Ukraine, we walked with the ache of separation, but also the weight of glory upon us. We felt like we were a living parable, a broken, weepy picture of the heart of God.  Deep, deep joy.  

Honestly, what Bill and I did was nothing special.  We did what God asked us to do. We did what God asks all of us to do.  

There are big problems in this fallen world.  According the International Justice Mission, nearly two million children are annually exploited in the commercial sex industry, the AIDS pandemic rages, and at times, police bring trauma rather than protection.  Unicef estimates the number of orphans at 210 million in the world today.  

Bill and I did very little to help with the world problems.  Very little.  But when we do what God asks us to do, when we choose to do something rather than nothing, we are displaying the heart of God. We are living out the heart of Jesus. 

Jesus' disciples asked him about the man born blind. They asked about sin.  They wanted to know whether it was this man who had sinned or his parents who had sinned.  They assumed that someone had sinned.  Job's friends made the same assumption.    

But Jesus says to his disciples, "You're wrong.  This man isn't blind because of sin. Not his.  Not his parents.  He's blind so that the heart of God can be displayed in his life."   

And then Jesus says something that explains why we left the six to go after the one.  "We must work the works of the one who sent me while it is day."  In other words, "We have to be the hands and feet of God right now."   

Then Jesus spits on the ground, makes mud with his saliva, and anoints the blind man's eyes.  I love this!  Jesus anoints the blind man's eyes with spit and mud. And when the man washed out the mud, he could see!  The man born blind could see!  

Katya's been home for nearly three years now, nearly three years.  Still blows me away.  Many people tell us what a wonderful thing we have done.  And sure, it was a great thing, but it was no better than giving a cup of water to a thirsty child, or visiting someone in prison, or taking dinner to a widow.  It was no better than what you can do today, in your world, to live out the heart of Jesus.  

We ALL can be about the work of God right now.  We ALL can be the hands of feet of Jesus.  We ALL can live out his heart in this world.   

What work is Jesus asking you to do today?  Is today the day to start a home study, to buy a homeless woman a meal, or to take time for a conversation with the girl who just fixed your latte?  In the words of Jesus, "We must work the works of the one who sent me while it is day."  What will you do today to live out the heart of Jesus? 

What has this post stirred in your heart? I'd love to hear!  And, if you are interested in our journey to welcome Katya into our home and our hearts, first as a visiting orphan, and then as our daughter, you can start back in the archives at the very beginning, June 2008.  I started writing at "Welcoming Katya" to share our adventure with family and friends.  If you have questions about either hosting or adoption, please email me at cynthiafin@gmail.com.  I'd love to come alongside you!