Wednesday, January 16, 2013
My thoughts on being a Foster Mom (part 2)
I have received a lot of questions on fostering and thought it might be helpful to blog about my experience.
I have mentioned that I felt the call to foster/adopt since I was a little girl. James did not. He said he had never thought about it until we discussed it. He agreed it was a good thing and something we could do but he had not thought about the need before. When we ministered in Michigan, there was a family who had two grown sons.They were nearing 50 years old. Heading into easy street,right? In our same church,there were these three little girls in a foster home. The foster mom said she could not adopt these girls and they probably would not end up staying together. They would be separated. The couple with the grown sons heard about it. Got a burden for these three girls. Went through the foster class, got approved to adopt these precious princesses. James and I attended their adoption ceremony. The court room was filled with joy! God allowed us to see their example and he was sowing seeds in our hearts. Their dedication at church was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen! Imagine these three princesses standing on the stage with their forever family. The pastor is talking about how we have all been adopted in the family of God. What an amazing picture! For us, as we saw this precious couple 25 years older than us take up the baton for these girls... We knew it would be us some day. This couple traded in their sports car for a mini van. I am sure these years have not been without challenges but I am sure they are as fulfilled as fulfilled can be as they parent these beautiful sisters.
Many women have said to me "I would love to foster but my husband does not want to". Pray for him. Be the best wife and mom you can be through God's power to those He has already given you. All you can be is willing and obedient. You obviously need your husband to be supportive and know that God has called you to this. If he says no, wait and pray and ask God to do a miracle in his heart. Help other foster families. Mentor one child or one mother. Maybe that is what God has for your family at this time. Maybe this small exposure will open your husband's heart and mind to the idea. Fostering is not for everyone. But I am convinced more families need to consider the blessing they have been given. I have an awesome family. Conor and Erin have an awesome daddy. We need to share our blessings with little children who have nothing. Nothing. Here in Roanoke. Children have nothing.
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2 comments:
Thank you for posting this Aisling! It is strange to read it and think that's about us! Our lives were a whirlwind that year and God was that whirlwind. I went from a convertible to a mini van! He made it all happen His hand was in it all, from the DHS fast tracking our license to me retiring from my job I worked so hard to get and keep! When you look in these kids faces God lets you see inside and you want to be a part of giving these kids a chance in this ugly world. To kids that have never experienced true love there is doubt, no trust, but such a need for that love that they will do everything you ask and thank you for it repeatedly. Our girls have been with us for 6 years and they still thank me for cooking them dinner. Sometimes I think have any of us ever been in that place where a meal is a maybe? Not in this country right? Wrong, it happens daily in this country with our over abundance! There are so many precious children in our own country that need to learn about true love, from a parent but especially from Jesus. This is a mission field that Christians are overlooking because it isn't as talked about as foreign adoption. Don't get me wrong there have been difficult times for us as there are with biological kids, but there is the joy of seeing these kids succeed and grow in Christ and accept Christ that makes it worth every minute. If you are married, have a home, a car, a job and Jesus's in your life you have all you need to enter this mission field. We have been blessed beyond anything we could have imagined and God has been faithful through the hard times and the good times. God used a couple thinking about retirement in a few years and taking vacations to once again wiping runny noses and doing many loads of laundry. But to be called Mommy and Daddy again with love in thier voices, priceless! Don't let Satan put doubts in your way, all things are possible through Jesus Christ our Lord. Put all the things of this world aside and look to what is important to God! Suffer the little children to come unto me! This is God's word!
Good job Mom giving my friends new backgrounds on their computers.
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