Rejected
“—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have the strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:17b-19
My heart was heavy when I read a story of one of the new children we were registering for sponsorship last month. Little girls desperately need to know that they are loved for who they are, but sometimes they are rejected by the very people who should love them the most. Can you relate to this kind of rejection?
We will not mention her name here to protect her privacy and dignity, but we feel compelled to share this tragic story. Traditionally, sons are very important to Ugandan families, as they are in many parts of the world. This young family had already had two daughters, but the father was hoping and praying for a son. He even took his wife to a religious “prophet” to pray over the third pregnancy. This person claimed that they would have a son, giving the father false hope. Both parents rejoiced in this news.
When his wife gave birth to their third daughter, the father was distraught and angry. In his anger, he began to hate the sweet baby, so much so that he sent her to live with her grandmother. To this day, he wants nothing to do with his daughter. I cannot even begin to understand why he has rejected his own flesh and blood, an innocent child in need of a father to raise her.
This is the very reason why we feel called to step in, love and support children in situations like these. What I love seeing is the compassionate hearts our Ugandan staff have for these children who suffer deeply because of rejection and abandonment. We could not have asked for a better team to mentor, pray for, disciple and love our sponsored children.
At our recent Suttle Tea Event, this sweet girl, a daughter of God our Father, was sponsored! Now, she gets to join our Hope Africa Family and learn of the all-surpassing love of God through his Son, Jesus. We will partner with her grandmother, easing the financial burden and encouraging her as she raises her granddaughter.
What an amazing gift it is to bring hope to a child who otherwise would see her life as hopeless. Thank you to the kind couple who stepped out to sponsor this girl, offering her a brighter future.
Have you been thinking about sponsorship and what it means? Learn more about what we do through the link below.