Do You Think?

People ask me this question a lot: Do you think you'll be able to handle all 7 children? Do you think you'll be able to homeschool? Do you think they'll have AIDS? Do you think they'll get along with the other kids?

What comforts me in the "do I think..." moments is, strangely, the fact that I have fought this plan of God's all along the way. I said no to adopting, no to Ethiopia and no to two children. Having it all still happen is astonishing to me. It isn't me and that's good news.

Joel and I went out to eat Monday night. As we drove there, alone, I had a 45 second, uninterrupted chance to reflect on this curious and wonderful call of God. I admitted to Joel, "You know, I don't even like toddlers."

"You like ours though don't you?" he asked.

"Well, that's like saying that I like the hair in our shower drain more than I might like the hair in other people's shower drains."

So, here we go. With our God. Adding more toddlers. With fullness of joy. With great anticipation. With assurance of mercy and grace and sustaining power and strength. What do I think? I'm thinking that the less I think about my opinions, the better.