See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God. 1 John 3:1

Yesterday afternoon I stood in my dirty kitchen with leftover fried eggs and sausage on a platter in front of me. I remembered an invitation I'd gotten the night before to go to the movies with a couple of gals. I'd turned it down earlier in the afternoon knowing I should go. Rylie's music class project, coffee cans turned tom-tom drums were complete besides the red and blue paint job that could dry on its own. Most of my reasons for not going had been crossed off the list. I stood before a left-out carton of strawberries when Michelle texted to make sure I couldn't go. Impulsively I asked her to pick me up. The kitchen would wait.

We caught the last night of a three day viewing of a documentary called The Drop Box. As I found seats, I adjusted my fountain drink in its holder and began to assemble the nachos in my lap; happy with my jalapeños. I was ready to be filled; anxious to be entertained. Minutes in, my eyes fixed themselves on necessary English subtitles. The movie introduces Lee, a pastor from South Korea who built a box into a wall with his laundry room on one side and the outside on the other. The box is a place of rescue for the growing number of abandoned babies in South Korea.

I've shared the YouTube trailer on my Facebook page.

I laughed at the familiar way Pastor Lee and his wife Chun-ha teased one another as they share the story of their beginning together. I made a note to look up several of the songs in the film. The music was beautiful. As one would expect, the film was full of babies and sweet little ones playing in their cramped living space. But entertained isn't the word I'd choose to describe the experience. I was filled; not by purchased movie snacks, but with awe at this Christ follower.

Early in the film I felt my heart had been hijacked. I was forced to face the cold reality of not only what happens to babies in South Korea but around the world.

Writing about the babies is hard. Many of those abandoned are handicapped; some severely. These babies are given up because they prove to be too heavy a burden both financially and emotionally. Most of Pastor Lee's babies have physical deformities. Were we to see them in public, we might find ourselves looking away, not sure how to react, not wanting to stare.

But in this film you're forced to watch them; to know they exist. And through the eyes of Pastor Lee and his wife you learn not to pity them. You see each one for the blessing he is.

In true gracious fashion, Pastor Lee shares his love even for the women who give their babies up. He reads heart-wrenching letters of girls who are desperate and in great sorrow regarding their decision.

You watch Lee's 26 year old biological son, Eun-man, struggle to smile or blink his eyes as he is confined to bed for the third decade due to his cerebral palsy. At the beginning of the film you watch as Lee handles a tube that is inserted in his son's neck. A raw image, you wonder why they had to show that part. By the end of the film you wish you could jump onscreen and plant a kiss on the son, Eun-man's forehead. Eun-man's life is beautiful. Strangely that's made visible as you witness his pain.

His daddy, Pastor Lee became known for his undying love in the hospital where Eun-man resided for fourteen years. Having lost their home due to mounting medical bills, Lee and his family lived in a waiting room at the hospital. He was known there as the father with an unrelenting love for the "boy on his back". Not only was his love for Eun-man his son apparent, but Lee preached and sang songs to all he encountered. It was at the hospital that Lee was first asked to adopt an ailing child. He agreed.

Since that time Lee and his wife have saved the lives of more than 500 babies. They have raised over three dozen of them. Lee is in poor health being sleep deprived and having diabetes. He and his wife carry a heavy burden. This story is nowhere near a happy ending.

But it's a story of hope.

It's a story that begs to be heard; not because any of us can fix this ill. This story belongs to each of us. It's finds us where we are and calls us to rise up. What can we do?

We can pray. Each of us can commit to pray for Pastor Lee and "his family". We can pray for his health. We can pray for his ministry; that he receives support. We can pray that those who God is calling to come alongside him would answer that call.

We can pray that more resources would eventually be provided to mamas who feel the only option they have is to abandon their baby. We can pray that the message of Jesus gets out through these testimonies God has written.

We can give to Pastor Lee's ministry. Check out the website. thedropboxfilm.com

You can get involved locally. Buckners and other organizations are looking for volunteers. Fostering and adopting is an option. Find a local family in need of encouragement. Maybe you know of a family that fosters children who would be uplifted by a meal or a night out. If you know of a family struggling with the demands of caring for a child with disabilities, offer your support.

The film ended with a short testimony from the director of the film. Brian Ivie set about to use his talents to make the film that would attract attention. In brutal honesty he shares that his goal was to make a name for himself. But that's the thing about Jesus. His is the name above all names.

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12

In Ivie's experience he came to realize what he and these adopted children have in common; something you and I have in common too. We are all in need of a holy father. We have a father who loves us unceasingly even when we are able to fully understand that love. He takes our filth and brokenness unto himself. He clothes us and makes us his own.

God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. Ephesians 1:5

If we could wake up every day living in light of that kind of love, we'd set the world on fire.

What are we waiting for?

The Drop Box has a Facebook page check it out. If you have any questions about this film or you'd like this film to be made a into a DVD let the powers that be know. Here's their email address.

filmquestions@fotf.org

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