Reflections on Foster Care

Lately I have been reflecting on the good and hard things going on in our lives at home.  I am overwhelmed by God's goodness in our lives and humbled by His intimate care for us.  He knows what we need and each day He brings us to a place where we are desperate for more of Him.

We are halfway through our second year of doing foster care through our county and overall it has been a very positive experience for our family.  Certainly, we are still new to this and are still learning every day.  I think that in some states/counties the "system" gets a bad reputation, but that has certainly not been our experience.   I have been counting the blessings in foster care that we have experienced this past year.  I'd like to highlight just some of the things that we are especially thankful for in our journey as a foster family.  

• Families who love their children.  We have met several families in the system who genuinely love their children and who are simply struggling with challenges in life that threaten to overwhelm them. It has been good for us to see the love that parents in crisis have for their children and the love that these children have for their parents. It is our joy to partner together with these parents as they seek the support and help they need to care well for their children. 
• Child Protection Workers who care about everyone involved.  I'm not sure how it is in other counties, but our county has an amazing team of child protection workers who are invested for the welfare of the child, committed to strengthening family bonds, and grateful for the care of foster families.  The team of child protection workers who have come into our home have been incredibly dedicated to helping children and families thrive.  They work hard, not just during their work week, but on nights and weekends, too, coordinating with foster families, law enforcement, legal council, and various sources of community resources for children and families. 
• Licensing Workers who work to equip, support, and encourage the foster families on their team.  
• Other foster families who understand the schedules and demands that go along with being a foster family - doctors appointments, visitation schedules, ECFE assessments, and monthly in home visits from CPS workers and the child's Guardian ad Litem.  It is so helpful to know other foster families who understand that these extra commitments in our lives are just part of what we do because we desire to open our home to these precious children.  These commitments are not burdens, but opportunities to show our love and care for these kiddos.
• Children who are a precious gift from the Lord.  Jesus welcomed children into his care and gives us the example for how we ought to welcome children into our care to love and pray for them:

Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.  But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” (Luke 18:15-17)

• Guardian ad Litem workers who know the law and advocate for children.  In some states they call this the CASA worker.  In Colombia they call the person in this capacity the "Defender of Minors".  Their job is to truly defend the best interests of the child, to advocate for them in court and with all the other parties involved.  I have always loved the title used in Colombia because it reminds me of Psalm 68:5, 

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,    is God in his holy dwelling.

Certainly there are some challenges in foster care: the brokenness and hurt of families and children in crisis, the added demands on a foster family's schedule for appointments and visits, adjusting roles within our family as we welcome a new little one for a season.  An added challenge outside of our family and the system would be the critical attitude and comments of those who just don't understand why we would take in more children, why we would adjust our schedule and our lives and sometimes even our bedrooms for a child who is a short-term visitor and who might come with significant behavior issues, why we would choose to do something challenging and messy only to say goodbye.  Sometimes there is no way to explain to others that this is just what we were made for and called to.  We are broken people, called to love and care for broken people, to spend our days and lives loving others, to be a real reflection of what Christ has done for us.  It is not always easy or pretty, but it is precious to those who find rest here.