Oscar de la Renta... Did you know?

Prior to his death earlier this week, on October 20, Oscar de la Renta was known for countless achievements. Here, a short list...

Born, in the Dominican Republic in 1932, he was raised alongside six sisters. Perhaps his first introduction to the fashion world began at home watching his sisters swap clothes and model outfits in front of the mirror. (Can't you just hear his sisters? "What do you think, Oscar? The red blouse or the blue?")

He moved to Madrid at age 18 to study painting. In Madrid, he became enraptured by the fashion industry and became an apprentice to Spain's most renowned fashion designer.

His fashion career officially began in Paris in 1961.

Two years later, he moved to New York and joined Elizabeth Arden.

He began his own fashion label in 1965.

In 1967, he married Franciose de Langlade, editor-in-chief of French Vogue, who introduced him to the movers and shakers of fashion society. He lost Franciose to bone cancer in 1983, a tragic loss.

In 1990, he remarried philanthropist Annette Engelhard Reed.

His fashion designs have been revered for decades, with several first ladies showcasing his creations. Jacqueline Kennedy, Nancy Reagan, Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush and Michelle Obama have all donned Oscar de la Renta designs.

Until his death, due to complications of cancer, he was still designing and still giving back. He supported the arts and several philanthropic ventures.

But did you know...

Oscar de la Renta was an advocate for orphans?

Did you know he was an adoptive father?

Neither did I.

He founded an orphanage named Casa del Nino in La Romana, Dominican Republic and visited it often.

He even adopted a son in 1986, from an orphanage in the Dominican Republic. It's been said that his son Moises, now a fashion designer like his Dad, was "the light of his father's life."

Oscar with son Moises

Isn't that the heart of every adoptive parent?

Farewell, Oscar de la Renta. You certainly left the world a better place.

Making a Difference: Orphan Sunday

Poverty. Crime. Homelessness. Substance abuse. Human trafficking...

The challenges facing our world can seem daunting - insurmountable even. Maybe, like me, you've wanted to do something -- anything -- to make the world a better place. Maybe, like me, you've witnessed the social ills around you and thought, "It's just too much. I'm only one person. How can I really make a difference in this crazy world?"

Maybe you concluded there wasn't anything much you could do to put a mere dent in the world's problems. So you did nothing.

Or maybe you chose to commit to one cause. You've dedicated your heart, your time and your talent to combat poverty or homelessness or human trafficking.

Or maybe, like me, you've discovered a collective way to impact the world for good -- for God. Maybe you've decided to pour your life into aiding the most vulnerable amongst us. The ones who suffer most under the chains of poverty, crime, homelessness, substance abuse and human trafficking.

Perhaps, like me, you've committed your heart, your time and your talents to serve the ORPHAN.

In serving the orphan, we have the opportunity to serve "the least of these."

The ones in need of an advocate. The ones in need of protection. The ones in need of financial security.

The ones in need of a family.

While serving the orphan, we must tell others about this amazing opportunity. We must spread the word, shout out loud for these precious souls that God adores.

On Orphan Sunday, we have that opportunity.

On Orphan Sunday, we can -- we must -- share with others God's call to the Christian to care for orphans.

On Orphan Sunday, we can tell others of the millions of children in the world without parents and a permanent place to belong.

On Orphan Sunday, we can share how AIDS, war and famine have stripped these defenseless children of their parents.

On Orphan Sunday, we can share with fellow believers that 400,000 children in the US are displaced, living in foster care... that many states rely on shelters and group homes because there aren't enough foster parents to go around... that 100,000 US children are available for adoption and waiting for a forever family.

Many of them will wait forever for that family.

On November 3, 2013 we can speak for those whose voices cannot be heard.

On Orphan Sunday we will "defend the cause of the fatherless." Isaiah 1:17

On Orphan Sunday we can join Christian Alliance for Orphans and churches around the world and stand for the orphan.

One day. One voice. One purpose.

One goal: to make a real difference in this crazy world.

Will you join the cause?

Orphan Sunday. November 3, 2013.

One day. One voice. One purpose.

Christian Alliance for Orphans' Summit 9: My Biggest Takeaway

Last week I attended Christian Alliance for Orphans' (CAFO) 9th Annual Summit.

It was an amazing time.

I'd be writing ALL DAY if I wrote every single take-away I received.

There were adoptive parents and singer-songwriters Steven Curtis Chapman and Nicole C. Mullen that moved the audience with their words as much as their songs.

Then there were the keynote speakers...

Senator Michele Bachmann shared her heart as the mother of 5 biological children and 23 foster children over the years.

Stephen Ucembe told the heartbreaking story of life in a Kenyan orphanage where he received food and clothing, but no hugs, no smiles, no love.

Bishop W.C. Martin of Possum Trot, Texas (yes - "Possum Trot, Texas") shared the story of a teeny tiny church in a teeny tiny town that's done HUGE things for Jesus. A pastor and adoptive father, he leads a small church that has adopted 76 children out of Texas' state foster care system. 76 children! Speaking of his small congregation, he said, "We don't have Ph.D.'s and secretaries and people sitting at computers all day, but we have true love. We are doers of the Word."

David Platt reminded us that our heart for orphans simply mirrors the heart of God for His children. He instructed us to think rightly about our call to care for orphans, saying "We are not rescuers. We are the rescued. That's why we care for orphans."

And the list goes on and on...

However, the most compelling session for me was Dr. Karyn Purvis' 4-hour intensive pre-conference workshop.

Dr. Purvis, director of Texas Christian University's Institute of Child Development, has done years of research on adoption and attachment. Her workshop revealed the effects of a child's unhealthy attachment to his or her parents and the beautiful results of an "emotionally available" parent of a child with a traumatic past.

Dr. Purvis' workshop sent me through a rollercoaster of emotions. I laughed. I cried. But mostly I felt understanding, awareness and grace as I reminisced on how often I've gotten it wrong with my own children.

Some memorable quotes:

"You can give them food, clothes and shoes, but only healthy relationships can heal the pain of a high-risk child." Relief organizations are wonderful and necessary, but children in crisis really need a loving mom and dad.

"Our eyes are a mirror to our child." When I look at my child with eyes of love and acceptance -- even when correcting him or her -- they feel loved and accepted.

"Are you parenting your child out of your wounding, your healing or your journey to healing?" If I don't do the work of sorting through my past and present emotional pain, I can't possibly help my child work through his or hers.

And this is just a small sampling from Dr. Purvis and her book, The Connected Child. 

I am already changed. I am conscious of my tone of voice and facial expressions when I talk with my children, especially Christian, adopted out of a Russian orphanage at age 2. I am generous with words of praise and with touch.

And I've noticed already - my sweet son is a little happier, a little less grumpy and slower to blow up in anger over small things.

To God be the glory.

And thanks to CAFO for Summit 9!

Love,

Carla

Praying for two Orphan Advocates: Rick and Kay Warren

Yesterday, my heart broke for Pastor Rick and Kay Warren, leaders of Saddleback Church in California. I've followed Rick's ministry ever since I read his book Purpose Driven Church, the year before my husband Anthony and I answered the call to full-time ministry. Yes, that was even before the amazingly popular Purpose Driven Life.

Rick and Kay are Bible-teachers, evangelists and encouragers of those of us trying to walk this faith-in-Jesus thing out.

They are also serious orphan advocates.

I love their hearts. But today my heart breaks for their hearts.

On Friday, after a life-long struggle with mental illness and severe depression, their son Matthew took his own life.

Matthew Warren

Rick's own words about this loss:

"No words can express the anguished grief we feel right now. He had a brilliant intellect and a gift for sensing who was most in pain or most uncomfortable in a room. He'd then make a bee-line to that person to engage and encourage them."

I would have loved to have met such a beautiful person. I look forward to meeting him in heaven some day.

Let's reach out to hurting people while we still have time. We'll never know the difference it might make.

Love,

Carla

Your turn:

Please pray for the Warren family and for their loss. Feel free to share your thoughts here about Matthew or his parents, Rick and Kay.