A story of grace

These children silently cry for a home.

They have been stripped of their homes, mom, possessions.

An officer or social worker came in their home and gave them about five minutes to grab some things and leave.

They were given to strangers.

Let me repeat that…they were given to STRANGERS.

They didn’t know these people.

Yet they had to sleep in the same house with them. The world wants to shut out anything sad and ignore it.

That won’t solve the problem. In Jefferson County, as of October 31, 2014,  there are 1014 children in foster care, and just over 200 foster homes. Maybe it’s just me, but that doesn’t add up. People need to stop talking about this problem and DO something about it. God tells us to care for the widow and the orphan. Foster kids are simply temporary orphans.

And please! Don’t tell me about how you foster dogs! Dogs and children do not compare.

I see my foster siblings suffering. They are lovable. They are of worth. They do deserve a home, a family, love, stability, a safe bed to rest in. They deserve a chance in this world.

Little Guy (4 yr old) walked in the room this morning, with a big grin on his face. We asked him why he was so happy. He replied “I’m just happy to be here.” Because he is happy to be here. In a safe home. Because we are always here, when others in his short life haven’t been.

Princess asks me every night to sing a short song from a book. It goes, “I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always. As long as we’re living, my baby you’ll be.”

Because the fact that she can be somebody’s “baby” is somewhat of a miracle to her. Through their eyes…their world has collapsed.

Their lives are full of court dates and visitation dates.

That should not be their life.

They are…..loved.

In my eyes, they are more loved then I can imagine. Not by me. Of course, I love them like crazy, but God is the one who loves them unimaginably.

God is the one thing in their lives that will never leave.

They are mine for now, and in my book will always be mine. Even if they aren’t in my life, they are mine. They are in my prayers, thoughts, memories, heart. Forever.

They are loved by my church, my friends, and my family.

That’s a lot of love.

And when Little Guy hits me, yanking at my face, pulling my hair, attacking me, I will still love him.

Why? Because I wonder how I would act if I was stripped of everything I’ve known my whole life. How would I act if I didn’t know if I would be sent somewhere else the next day?

Or better yet, how would YOU act?

They are God’s. And I think that makes them pretty amazing.

I will love them while I still can… while they are still in my home, and in my life.

Because they are God’s and that means that they ARE lovable.

They ARE of worth.

They ARE mine.

They ARE beautiful.

They are…

Anna.