So that they may know HIM!

We have had the privilege of babysitting two wonderful, little girls the past couple weeks. We have loved having them here every afternoon and each of us have looked forward to it every day. There was a bond that seemed to form almost instantly between the girls and our kiddos. It was like they just belonged. 

Then this past weekend, their foster mom had a medical emergency and was taken by ambulance to the hospital. The girls were left in town with one of the medical team. The foster mom was unable to contact the social worker, so she contacted us. We quickly dropped everything (well, we were pushing the golf cart that had ran out of battery all the way home) and ran to get them. We had them all weekend, unable to make contact with their social worker. We had a ball!

Monday morning early, I tried again to get ahold of the girls SW. This time she answered and said she'd gotten all the messages and already had a family lined up to move the girls. I was honestly a little stunned, as she never even asked if we'd keep them. She didn't even seem to notice we'd taken them, for that matter. So away they go. Again.

I'll tell you what, this foster care business is a mess. It totally messes with your emotions. There's righteous anger for what these children have endured. There's the frustration of dealing with some of the bazaar and unhuman behaviors they may present. There's the gigantic loss of when you've loved these children, whether for a week or 2 years, and they're moved. But friends, these are REAL PEOPLE!! Precious children, who's world gets rocked with every move. Little souls who desperately NEED stability. They are trapped in a life they would have never chose and can do nothing about. They NEED us, Church!! 

I want to speak up {loudly} as a foster parent. I want to challenge YOU, friends. Would you consider being a foster parent? Would you just pray about it? It is often like this... Hard. Full of goodbyes. Unfair. It feels like you are trapped in an endless sea of paperwork and rules and heartbreak. But it is worth it to know that God used you to love a child who needed a safe place for that time. It's not about me. It's not about how much I wanted these children to stay. It's about loving these children and doing the very best I can for them, regardless how long I have them. It's about laying down my life for them, like Jesus did for us.

My children cried and cried when the girls left today. I asked them all what they would say if a social worker called with another child. Would they still say yes, even when they knew how much it hurts to lose the children we had loved? Without any hesitation, they all agreed that they would say yes again. I guess this is the part I'm thankful for. I am thankful God has allowed my children's hearts to break for other children stuck in these situations. I am thankful God has allowed them to see both sides of foster care, both the love and the loss. I pray that it lights a flame of passion in my children. A flame that will grow into a mighty blaze. A blaze that will CHANGE the lives of many. I pray my children will all be grow up to lead many, many souls to Christ. I want them to be aware of the condition of this broken, hurting world. I want them to know that they were given an opportunity to learn about the love of Jesus so that they can rise up and proclaim the Truth of His love to a lost and dying world. With everything in me, I want them to carry His light brighter and stronger and with more passion than I ever could! Oh, that they may know Him!! 

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:
1 Peter 4:10

Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.
Romans 10:1

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Mark 16:15-16