Foster Care Awareness Month
#FosterCareAwareness Month
I understand that data rarely changes hearts, but let’s be aware how we so readily find reasons why the data is not our problem. I was there. And if you’re anything like I was, you don’t even really feel like reading the rest of this post.
But in honor of Foster Care Awareness Month (and the 400,000+ children in foster care, 100,000+ of whom are waiting for their forever families) I ask you to pause a few moments and read.
Here are a few thoughts to consider which are also some of my personal confessions of how I’ve been challenged through this process:
1. We live in a world which says pursue comfort and convenience at all costs - even at the expense of the most vulnerable around you...and the gospel says something literally quite the opposite. I was not living an extravagant life but I did like my comfort and I didn’t want the inconvenience. I was there.
2. We tend to minimize our capacity to make a difference in someone else's life - and to, out of fear, sometimes use that self-deprecation as a smokescreen to avoid what we know we are actually capable of (and perhaps called) to do. The comment I still hear most is, “I could never do that. Foster care is only for very special people.” A nice comment of praise, I know, but this can also be used as an excuse. I was there. I’ve said the same things.
3. Realize God's capacity to do what only God can do, and the freedom we have to not expect ourselves to be anything for these kids or families that only Jesus intended Himself to be - so we don't let the fear of not having what it takes deter us; we let the hope that HE CAN drive us.
Once we said yes to foster care, I’ve failed in so many ways, but He has given us victory in infinitely more ways. I was, still am, and will always be in this place.
If you’ve read this far, I ask you to take a moment to pray and ask the Lord, “what am I to do?”
I’m so thankful God carried us through our fears and reservations. Because here we are now, and I can’t imagine life otherwise without these babies. And through foster care, this little one who was once our foster child is now simply our child.
(Many of these points taken from Jason Johnson’s foster care article)