The line for a green card has been 2 years long.
The lawyer was hired early to help in preparing the applications--to dot the "i"s and cross the "t"s. Only one of them can speak the language, and only the other one can drive. We gave him a list of low-paying jobs to choose from if he would like to work--legally--in our free country while he waits for his
Did I mention the wait has been 2 years long? But any day now. Surely any day...
They live in an apartment where they don't feel safe, amidst a people who wander the grounds aimlessly during the daylight hours only to hunker down with their beer once the sun goes down. It is not good for their very young daughter to get too close to the neighbor children for fear that they'll be placed in a position to decline an invitation to play. And that might offend when they would rather just not be noticed.
They would like to find a better job, but they must stick to the list.
They would like to move to another complex, but are afraid that their paperwork will be lost in the mail if they leave.
They thought they might like to apply for a second temporary Social Security Number--for her--but the price has increased by 200% in the short time they've been here.
Delays and hassles not in their control have set back the process and are costing the family many things. Good things that I take for granted. I want to rescue my dear Sister from this season of her life. She is so kind; so capable; so patient.
But instead, she rescues me in ways she doesn't even know about today. She tells me all these things--all these frustrations, and then she begins to praise the Lord for His goodness and faithfulness to her family.
I listen, and do not talk as she counts the ways.
To illustrate her satisfaction, she shares with me the riveting story of David and Bathsheba--when David prayed for the life of their baby until news of the baby's death was brought to him. Upon hearing it, he got up off the floor, ate, and was quiet before the Lord.
As so are she and her husband.
In her affable tone with the gentle accent of the romance language that is her mother tongue, she says that they have cried out to the Lord; made their supplication; done all they could do, and this is where the Lord has them. I think to myself that they are in a strange place, amongst strange people, feeling very vulnerable at the hands of a government they don't know how to navigate.
But that is not where her thought life lives. She is living somewhere else entirely when she goes on to tell me that, "though it is not pleasant, we know that God knows something we cannot see."
And then she finishes with this profound statement of faith, "So we be quiet before the Lord."
Oh Lord, help me be quiet like that.
7 comments:
What a beautiful and faith filled family you decribe here! I pray that things begin to move forward for them soon.
Once again, beautiful story telling.
And not in the telling, but the fact that it is real, and honest, and true. And though those words can mean about the same thing, they are not in this case.
Thank you for sharing.
And as far as you last post, I love the dresses!!! Colors are just such a gift from our Lord. And, oh to look so delightful in them!! I like to say we hispanics have the corner on color. But really we don;t, we just like to make believe. :)
I'm not sure, but reading in between the lines, I'm assuming this precious family has come here from a third-world country? If so, I must say... they find so much strength in God, and look to him for e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g. -- much more so than we here, in this vast free country -- that offers credit cards, loans to pay for emergencies, and fast food to fill our bellies. I always find so much strength in listening to someone who came here ... from nothing ... with nothing ... except their faith in the Lord. Amazing.
Your retelling of this story is encouraging! Thanks for not keeping it to yourself but sharing it with us! ;-)
Wow. That was beautiful. I need to be quiet before the Lord more often.
Amazing.
Perspective is a wonderful thing, isn't it? Amazing what we take for granted. Amazing the small problems that bother us, until we realize how small they really are in comparison to some.
On a side note, stories like these bless my heart. With all the fuss over illegal immigration these days, how wonderful to know that there are some still honest and faithful to go through the process--red tape, delays, run-around, and all. Perhaps stories such as theirs will serve to soften the hearts of so many who are allowing this political issue to frankly breed outright racism at times. May God bless this precious family!!
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. Hebrews 11:1-2
It is beautiful to see faith in God lived out.
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