Positioned for Healing

"He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved." Psalm 62:6

As a sixth grader, I had dreams of becoming a gold medalist in a newly created Olympic sport--figure roller skating. I was certain I could petition the IOC to add the sport and would practice on our back patio for hours to be ready for my debut. Unfortunately, a freak accident involving a crack in my neighbor's driveway ended my visions of glory. I was performing my best practice moves while waiting for my friend to lace up her skates, when suddenly my wheel caught and there was nothing to break my fall but my arms...Break they did, both of them. Ouch.

With two broken arms, immobilized in a cast on one and a bulky brace on the other, I could do nothing for myself. It was humbling, frustrating and exasperating. Thankfully, family and friends helped in any way they could. They wrote for me, fed me and my best friend's mom even washed my hair for me. Yet, the one thing I needed most, they could not do. They could not heal my arms.

After six long weeks of wearing a cast, we went to the doctor who determined my right arm still wasn't healed. So, he repositioned my arm with my wrist bent wrapping it in another cast to hold it in this awkward position. My friend thought it would be a great idea to draw eyes and a forked tongue so that when i lifted my arm it would look like a cobra. I was not amused. I couldn't understand why the first cast had not done the job of healing my arm. It didn't occur to me until my arm was frozen in the new position, encased in a new cast, that the plaster itself did nothing to heal me, except for hold my arm still, protected from outside danger, and in position for the healing to take place on the inside.

As we are learning more about our newly adopted little guy, we're discovering he has some broken places. Any time a child becomes an orphan, there are broken places. As much as I thought being in our family would bring immediate healing on some level, I've come to realize we are just the cast. It's our job to position him for the healing that will come from God alone. We are here to hold him in a still place, encase him in our love, protect him from outside danger and wait for healing on the inside. It will take time. It is humbling, may be frustrating and could even become exasperating at times, but it is eye-opening, heart-opening, even.

As I see broken places in my son, I see broken places that were in my own heart as well. I'm thankful that during times of brokenness, God allowed others to encase me in their love and by their prayers, position me at the foot of His throne for healing to take place on the inside.

On this journey, I'm learning to let God mold me, just like the plaster of a cast, and use me however He sees fit. I'm thankful the healing is in His hands. He is the Great Physician, after all. If you desire healing for someone you love, pray about how you can step back from trying to be the healer yourself and ask God to make you the cast. Then wait for the One Who comes, "with healing in His wings."