Humility

When we first adopted Gladdie, no...I have to go back further.

When we first got a doctor's opinion on Gladdie's file, before we'd even met her, and knowing that she walked with a severe limp, I assumed that hip surgery would be in her future. And to be honest, it terrified me.

It was honestly my worst fear in this entire adoption...her, at age 8, being stuck in a body cast for weeks on end...unable to walk, play, swim, bathe, or use the toilet. It was scary.

I think the Lord had some mercy on me, though, because when I first heard the word "surgery," it was way last October. I had months to plan and prepare for it.

I remember thinking: It's all for Gladdie. She will be so much stronger for this. She will be better for this. It's better to do this now than wait until she's older. Let's just get it over with and allow her to move on in life.

Surgery went well. We were out of the hospital in 2 days. Her pain seemed very minimal, and overall her spirits were pretty good. She had one "meltdown" when we'd been home only a short time. Other than that...she has been the BEST patient. I mean that seriously. The BEST.

I admit that there were times when I was selfish and didn't want to "serve" her. She was completely helpless. She had to rely on us for EVERYTHING. And the Lord would remind of that. Remind me of how she must feel to be completely dependent on other people for her very life, especially after being such an independent child.

We moved her down to the cool basement after a week or so. And that's where she stayed for the rest of her "confinement." Again, I can't emphasize enough what a great patient she was. She was content to sit in her chair with her iPad or "compuyee" and play/listen to her heart's content. Her sisters would come down and interact with her, and always at least one person would eat meals with her.

Close to the end of the 6 weeks, the word "humility" came to me. I was reminded of Jesus and how He washed the disciples' feet. What a wonderful example of humility. This whole experience has been one of humility. For all of us.

For Gladdie: she had to humbly accept our help for EVERYTHING; she experience physical humility in that the cast prevented her from wearing any clothing on her bottom half; she had to accept our serving her.

For us: we had to humbly acknowledge that we had to do everything for her--feed, clothe, bathe, toilet...everything; we also had to acknowledge that her physical health was dependent on us, as well as her mental and emotional health. That brings with it quite a feeling of humility.

A few verses that really capture my heart about humility...

     Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Eph 4:2

     Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the                     very last, and the servant of all.” Mark 9:35

    Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever        welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is        the greatest.” Luke 9:48 

I think that this experience, which of course strengthened Gladdie's physical body and will improve her overall health and life, was equally meant for me. To give me a first-hand, visible lesson on humility and the great responsibility and honor it is to raise and care for these children that God has given us.