In Search Of A Child

Two weeks from this very moment, I'll be in the air on my way back to Vietnam for the fourth time! In the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 school years, my teacher's aide was Hanna who was born in Vietnam. This is part of her journey in life, a life which finds her a recent college graduate! This is from December 17, 2009.
One of the great stories surrounding the birth of the Christ is the journey of the Magi from the east to find and worship the baby. We note in class the passage of time, evidenced by the fact that Jesus-Mary-Joseph were now abiding in a house in Bethlehem instead of the barnyard birthplace. What an honor that their trek in search of the Messiah would land them right in the middle of Matthew's account of what we commonly refer to as the Christmas story! We don't know how long they traveled or how long they stayed but we know they rejoiced as they were led to the child whose birth would change the landscape of mankind forever. The gifts they laid at the feet of Jesus were precious and undoubtedly financed the flight of the young family to Egypt, away from Herod's edict to strike down all the infant boys in the city of David. The Father in Heaven always works things out so perfectly.

Tomorrow is our last day of school and Hanna is excited. One of my wonderful student teacher aides, Hanna has an extra reason to look forward to the break. On Christmas Day, Hanna and her parents will board a plane bound for Asia. You see, Hanna was born in Vietnam and was adopted by an American family when she was very young. This will mark her first trip back since that fateful day when her new family picked her up and she became an American. Hanna told me she can barely remember as a toddler being in a rice paddy with the woman who brought her into the world. Her folks have been able to track down her biological mother and in a matter of days, Hanna will reunite with some of her family of origin and visit the land of her birth. What a Christmas present her mom and dad are laying at the feet of their youngest daughter. What a Christmas present, too, for the woman who has not seen Hanna since she was tiny. It's kind of a reverse Magi trip, isn't it, except the seekers are coming from the west and they won't be following a star. In the pictures above, you can see the age progression from a little girl to a lovely almost-in-college young lady. You can see, also, a shot of some of her family and their neighbors whom she will meet for the first time. Hanna's two worlds will collide and she will never be the same. I know the mother with her DNA will be so proud at what her child has become. And, I know two American parents will praise the Lord for the gift He has given them. Two families, one child, and an incredible amount of love. This will be a holiday for the ages for one not-so-little anymore girl. Merry Christmas, Hanna.

Applicable quote of the day:
''In every conceivable manner, the family is link to our past, bridge to our future.''

Alex Haley

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1

www.hawleybooks.com

E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com