blossoms of hope

First, a story from the book of Numbers.

Aaron’s Staff Buds

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak to the people of Israel, and get from them staffs, one for each fathers’ house, from all their chiefs according to their fathers’ houses, twelve staffs. Write each man’s name on his staff, and write Aaron’s name on the staff of Levi. For there shall be one staff for the head of each fathers’ house. Then you shall deposit them in the tent of meeting before the testimony, where I meet with you. And the staff of the man whom I choose shall sprout. Thus I will make to cease from me the grumblings of the people of Israel, which they grumble against you."

Moses spoke to the people of Israel. And all their chiefs gave him staffs, one for each chief, according to their fathers’ houses, twelve staffs. And the staff of Aaron was among their staffs. And Moses deposited the staffs before the LORD in the tent of the testimony.

On the next day Moses went into the tent of the testimony, and behold, the staff of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted and put forth buds and produced blossoms, and it bore ripe almonds.

Then Moses brought out all the staffs from before the LORD to all the people of Israel. And they looked, and each man took his staff. And the LORD said to Moses, "Put back the staff of Aaron before the testimony, to be kept as a sign for the rebels, that you may make an end of their grumblings against me, lest they die." Thus did Moses; as the LORD commanded him, so he did.

And the people of Israel said to Moses, "Behold, we perish, we are undone, we are all undone. Everyone who comes near, who comes near to the tabernacle of the LORD, shall die. Are we all to perish?

That was my quiet time yesterday and I was floored by the beauty of the text. Is that weird?
I know there is probably some deep and really spiritual meaning to this text that only super smart and overly pedantic people know, but for me it was a picture of God bringing life as only He can. From a piece of wood. Dead wood. From dead wood He brought blossoms and fruit! I immediately thought of the cherry blossom tree.

I'm no tree expert, but I'm fairly certain a cherry blossom didn't bloom from Aaron's rod that day. Could be because I've had Asia on the brain and I love Bath & Body Work's cherry blossom lotion (which I wore yesterday) so the cherry blossom tree was on default in this girl's mind.

It was nice to read that passage, which was a new text for me by the way, the day before our Holt interview. It made me think about God not only as the creator of life but also as the Guy that determines where that life lives. And that's what today was about, finding a home for a little baby.

The interview went really well. Basically, she asked questions about our likes, hobbies, plans for childcare, experience with kids, and jobs. There wasn't a right or wrong way to answer her. She explained that her job is to interview all the families and present each family before a committee of 5ish social workers who will then decide which family is best suited for Baby.

I was nervous before the interview. I am flat out anxious now. The next 40 some-odd hours will be excruciating as we wait on an answer.

Our prayer is that Baby will get the home she needs, not the one we want for her (though we'd take that!).

Sending Hugs