Friday, February 14, 2014

My heart walked out the door today

My heart walked out the door today in the form of a little 5 year old girl.

How do I even comprehend this?  What do I do?  How do I wake up tomorrow morning and live life without her here?

We've known for a few days this was coming.  I actually got the phone call about 2:15 on a school day.  Sara covered my class and my team covered my dismissal duty.  (Because I have the best partner and best team ever.)

After all the kids were gone, I tried to call Mom, but she had a client and couldn't talk right then.  I began to cry.  I knew when I started, I would not stop.  And I didn't....it was ugly.  I didn't care.  My heart was shattering while still beating.  How does that happen?  I raced for a trash can and heaved up my lunch.  That had never happened before...and wasn't really on my bucket list if I'm being honest here.  I called Janell and she came out and just hugged me.  Sara came back from duty, and she and Janell both kept saying, "I'm so sorry.  I don't know what else to say."  And, can I just say, that is the PERFECT response.  There is nothing to say to this kind of pain.  They are my friends and they were there with me during the most painful moment of my life.  That is all that I needed.

I told J a few days later.  We weren't sure of the exact date of return, and the uncertainty was hard for an adult.  A sweet, innocent 5 year old didn't need dragged into that uncertainty any sooner than she had to be.  She was quiet and had some questions.  Later that day we began some packing.  I was a little nervous about this, but it was amazing.  She walked straight up to the dollhouse and knew exactly which dolls and stuffed animals were hers.  The same with the bookshelf and the toy chest and the dresser drawers.  She even got a fun, silly grin on her face when she held up a stuffed animal I've had since I was a little girl and said, "Alyssa, can I take this one?"  I just looked right back at her with a fun, silly grin and said, "No, you can't take that one with you." and she laughed and put it back.

As life always goes, and humans make life messy (y'all know that already though, right?), the timing changed.  There has been more uncertainty than I would like.

But today was the day.  She is gone.  As far as I know, I will never see her again.  God knows where she is.  My prayer for her is to know Him intimately.  That they will be best friends.  I was at If: Gathering in Austin a few days ago, and Christine Caine challenged us to pray for a miracle.  Something so big, only God could make it happen and all glory would go to Him.  I'm praying for J's biomom to become a believer.  I'm praying for women in her life to surround her with truth and love and grace and support.  If her mom becomes a believer, then she will lead her children to love Jesus, too.

I bought a recordable storybook called Under the Same Moon.  As I read it out-loud, recording my voice for her to listen to whenever she wants, I was thinking of the days she will be gone.  And on the last page, my voice broke just a bit.  She will always have my heart, but she is not mine to have.

I wrote her mom a letter.  I want her to know how much J has been loved.  I want her to know I'm cheering her on and rooting for her, even though we don't know each other.  I want her to know that J is getting good at riding her bike with training wheels, and doesn't like green beans but loves broccoli.  I want her to know nights are still a little hard, but she loves cuddling and reading stories.  I want her to be able to experience the time J has been in my home so that, as a mother, she doesn't feel quite so disconnected.

My heart walked out the door today in the form of a little 5 year old girl.  And I may not ever get it back.  But there is a little girl out there that knows she is loved.  And that is worth losing my heart for...

                                                     "Blessed Be Your Name"

Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name

12 comments:

  1. (Sorry if this comes through twice--computer is acting weird)....
    Oh, Alyssa. I am praying for you today, and crying with you as I read this. You have forever made a difference in J's life, and I know she has done the same for you. <3

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    1. Thanks, Kim! Prayers are definitely appreciated! I knew this day would come...but knowing it and living it are two different things. I'm praying for you, too! I hope to come to the next Chit, Chat and Chai!

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  2. This is one of the most beautiful things I have ever read. I have loved keeping up with your posts about J because we of course share the same name. :-). I'm praying for you as you begin the next chapter of your life. I pray for J as she has her whole life ahead of her, that she will remember and cherish the time you spent together.

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    1. Thanks, J! :) I so appreciate the prayers! (And I'm smiling that y'all have the "same" name. :) I hope you're doing well!

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  3. Alyssa, I am crying with you today. I so very much admire you. You gave your heart away knowing this day would come and that it would hurt. You may never see J again, but be assured a part of you has been instilled in her heart. The memories may fade, but the feelings of love, security, family, and acceptance she received from you and your family are embedded deeply within her. Just as she took a part of you, she left a part of herself with you. On this Valentine's Day, may God's blessings of peace, comfort and strength fill your very soul for today you have found favor in His eyes for your faithfulness to trust Him. Darlene Wilkins

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    1. Thank you, Darlene! I so appreciate your words of encouragement and your prayers! One of my concerns...and yet hopes...would be that she would be so loved at home she would forget her time with me. Yet, you're right. The memories will fade, but the love, security, family and acceptance will always be a part of her. Thank you for reminding me!

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  4. Alyssa, I am praying for your heart today. You have been such an amazing example of a strong women of the Lord for J and I just know that has made a huge impact on her life forever. You planted seeds that I pray will grow into something beautiful and spread to her family as well. I'm so sorry your hurting. Praying for you right this moment.

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    1. Thank you for your prayers, Delaina! I so appreciate them! Amen! Lord, water and cultivate these seeds in a way only You can do!

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  5. Alyssa... I have no words, but I do have a few tears after reading this. Thanks for sharing this journey with us... I have no doubt that the time you spent with J will reap unforeseen benefits because it was rooted in the love of Jesus.

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    1. Thanks, Todd! I so appreciate your words of encouragement! I still remember our times of serving together with fondness and look up to you as a spiritual leader I am blessed to know and have served under. Encouragement from wise friends I admire...a special thing.

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  6. Alyssa...I'm so sorry. I can't imagine the pain you must feel. During the stretch when my daughter was taken from me for 8months and I did not see her at all...someone spoke this truth to me: "God loves her more than you do...and He can take care of her better than you can." I knew it was true but it didn't take away the pain. It's a truth I still cling to when she is not in our home with us and with her bio mom. I'm not sure if that truth helps you or not, but you have planted seeds in her little heart that we pray will bear much fruit.

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    1. Josh, yes that truth is helpful. It is something I'm clinging to daily. Thank you for your prayers and your honesty about your own pain. I echo those prayers and shout Amen! Lord, please water them. Cultivate them. Bring other planters and harvesters alongside her little heart to love on her!

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