This week, I’d like to take a moment to talk about one of the most important lessons the orphans of China have taught me over the past few years; what the love of Christ truly looks like.
One child who taught me that better than anyone else was Toby.
In my bible study group last week, we talked about how we need to treat every single other person the same way we would treat Christ, in doing so we will truly be able to feel and express our love and devotion for Him. After I left Toby's foster home last year, new interns and nannies began to give Toby everything they could. They invested their time, their prayer, and most importantly, their love into him.
When I came back to Toby’s foster home in May of 2014, he was a completely different child. He was no longer upstairs alone in his room; instead he was downstairs in the play area with the other children. He was not lying on the ground gazing off with lifeless eyes, but instead was filled with more joy than I had ever seen. He was crawling on the floor and would go over to whoever was closest to him and climb into their lap so he could be held. He would even try to stand or walk if you held his hands to balance him. Before my eyes, a boy who did not even notice you entered the room was bringing hope and joy to everyone who met him!
Toby’s 180 degree turn around was only possible through the power and love of Jesus Christ. We don’t know what God’s plan is for our lives, but I believe that He strategically put every person who was at Toby’s foster home the past few years there for the purpose of making Toby’s final time on this earth as comfortable and joy filled as possible.
Toby passed away on Sunday October 5th, 2014. Though he did not have a forever family, he still has people all over the world who love him and will mourn his passing. I urge you to keep these people in your prayers. Toby is now free in the kingdom of Heaven. He is no longer suffering from medical conditions, nothing can limit him now.
Goodbye Toby, you will be greatly missed. You have shown me that the power of love through Jesus Christ is strong enough to over come any obstacle. I know that everyone who knows you will always love you and cherish the short time they had with you in this life.
~By Kelly Lukens