LOVE in the form of protection, acceptance, validation, and physical touch are essential to the human heart.
I began reading the book, Captivating last summer, during my tour with 13FLOOR in Europe . The journey it has taken me on has been incredible! I met a girl my age in Belgium who carried the book with her from her home in the States, because she knew the Lord wanted her to pass it on to a heart that needed it. After only a few short of hours of cleaning, stacking chairs, and peeling tape off a truck...God spoke. Mine was the heart that needed the book and I am so thankful for Elise and her obedience to God's voice.
In the book, John and Stasi Eldredge articulate beautifully the silenced cry of our hearts as women. God designed a woman's heart to be soft, gentle, nurturing, etc. There is so much on this topic to be explored, but Im going to save that for another rainy day and focus on the dusty corner of every girl's heart that yearns to be fought for. In almost every fairytale, the climax of our story builds with the struggle of our beauty trapped and hurt (or sleeping) while our hero is fighting to rescue her. He's fighting with everything he has to protect her.
That LOVE shown in form of protection speaks enormous volumes to the little girls, young women, middle-aged mothers, and even old grannys in your life. It speaks to that dusty corner that most of us have forgotten about. It says, "You are someone special. You are precious. You are valued. You are worthy of my effort." Perhaps, you understand this volume, because you have once (or even many times) intervened and stepped in front of your beloved to protect her heart. Or perhaps you understand because you are someone's beloved.
Now, I want you to imagine...nobody has EVER fought for you.
Maybe you don't need to imagine.
Every Heart NEEDS to be Fought For.
Jana's Heart NEEDS to be fought for. At 15 years old, her chances and hope of being someone's beloved is drifting away from her. This September birthday will bring no joy for Jana, only reality. The reality of being turned out of the orphanage. The reality of having to find herself a job, a place to live, and way to survive. The statistics of Jana's survival are slim. Within 5years, 90% of the orphans end up in crime, prison, prostitution,drug addiction, or homeless. Another 5% commit suicide. The primary means of birth control is abortion. The average woman has 8 abortions before she is 40 years old.
Kevin and Cindy Tuttle, along with myself and others are fighting to protect Jana's heart from this reality. I have not had the opportunity to meet her, but Kevin and his daughter Kristen did while they were in Latvia, finalizing paperwork on the adoption of their son and brother, Aleks. Aleks and Jana are from the same orphanage. Jana is waiting for her Forever Family to take her home. And I believe, that her Forever Family is looking for her right now.
Join me in the MOVEMENT for Jana's heart!
Absolutely incredible!
ReplyDeleteYou are a gifted writer!
You really are!
Love this post!
It is articulate and beautifully written.
Love you,
Mom
that was so beautiful! your heart is pure and precious! i love you!
ReplyDeleteThank you Mom, Kiana, and Ms Cindy!
ReplyDeleteIt means so much
*Just want to clarify something for my readers.
Jana is not from the same orphanage as Aleks. At the moment she is living with a foster family but I'm under the impression that it's not with the intention of adopting. Jana is unhappy living with this family, and Im not sure why.
Kayla...
ReplyDeleteThank you so very much for advocating and fighting for Jana with us. She is an incredible girl who is totally worth fighting for...yet she just wants a family. A mom and dad to love her unconditionally...and forever.
There is so much we could share about Jana and would love to share with anyone interested in making a difference in the life of Jana.
Again...thank you!