All They Need is Love

A little over a year ago, Jenn and I began a journey that we thought was going to be relatively quick and easy.  We'd gotten lined up with a woman who was soon to deliver a child and would give her up for us to adopt.

God had different plans. 

God has led us through many highs and lows.  Our first attempt, as I mentioned earlier, didn't pan out for us.  We had our course all planned out, but it didn't go the way we thought.  God guides our steps.  We knew he was pushing us towards helping children, since the first we've had two more potential adoptions to fall through. 

By this period of time, I had become discouraged and that we weren't really ever going to get this all to come together.  In our hearts we never really saw fostering as an avenue.  But as Proverbs 16:9 says, we plan our course but God guides our steps.  And just a quick FYI, THE STEPS GOD GUIDES MAY NOT BE ON YOUR PLANNED COURSE!

God slowly softened our hearts to the idea of fostering.  It's providing a need for a child, just like adoption, the only thing is they may not stay forever.  

The reason I'd fought the though for so long was because I tend to become super attached and I was afraid of my feelings being ripped to shreds of a kid were pulled from our home.  So I fought God on it.  When you fight God, you either get slapped silly and realize He's right, or you run further away.  

So this back and forth continued for a time.  Then Jenn does her research and finds us an opportunity to attend what Texas calls PRIDE.  It's training for foster parents.  It's a process and can be a little painstaking.  However, what in life that's worthwhile is not?  

"Well, I'm not called to foster or adopt."

That's where I'd beg to differ. I thought the exact same thing.   A couple of instances in the Bible tell us to care for or bring justice to the orphans or the fatherless. (See James 1:27; Isaiah 1:17)  Is this not a calling to us?  At the very least, we could give some time to volunteer with orphans.  Better yet, get the training and open your home and your heart to a child that may not know what home is or what love looks like.  

I mean look at yourself.  Were you not out in a wilderness of sorts and Jesus brought you in? So, why can we not follow our ultimate example? In John 14:18, Jesus tells us He won't leave us as orphans, He will come to us.  

Our process is nearly complete and, hopefully, soon our home will be open to children.  

What can you do?

Pray earnestly and seek God's will for your life in the realm of fostering or adoption. If that's an avenue for you, contact your local CPS office or some other agency which can give you the options for caregiving. Considering I just read two posts from a friend describing the lack of homes for placement and children are sleeping in CPS offices on air mattresses, I'd say there's a great need.  

Seek out families and young people you might mentor.  Model for them what family is. 

We've got to be the ones to lead out in our communities.  All kids need love and need nurturing.  They need people whether for 2 days or 2 years that can step in and show them love and to help them develop.  

Even if you're not a believer, you know good and well that children thrive in loving environments. Provide that for them!  

For those of us believers, it's time to put our money where our mouth is and take this church stuff outside the walls of our churches!