"They will know we are Christians by our love, by our love"... Will they?

One of the things I am becoming more and more passionate about is the children that are cared for in our foster system.  We were foster parents and were able to adopt after fostering.  Because of this we are reminded every day that there are children out there that need to see the love of Jesus in a tangible way.  Not just by hearing about him, they need to see his love in action.  We have an opportunity to share the love of Christ in a bleak, often loveless place.  So I am trying to go about this by asking others to join me in bringing them a few of the things they may need.  

Foster parents get paid for this, right?

Um, how many people do you know that are gettin' rich off of being foster parents?  If they were there would be a line of people out the Family Services door just waiting to sign up.  But there isn't.  They can't get nearly enough people to do that job because that minimal reimbursement is gone before the check clears the bank.

If I give something I want to include a Christian oriented item:

I really try to explain that the foster care system is a government program that is run by our state.  If we were allowed to include our religious beliefs then every religion would be allowed to hand out theirs.  Muslim, Hindu, Wicca, Atheist, you get my point.  We had to have our child's social worker's permission to take him to church.  Some are required to get a judge's permission.  While fostering we could not leave him alone in Sunday School because he would be cared for by people that were not state inspected by the foster system.  (This differs with every child's circumstances.)  While most social workers know that a church-going family is the most stable family, it is still not our place to make that call. 

In my foster circuit approximately 95% of the kids are brought into care due to meth (Methamphetamine) exposure.  The meth makers think they are getting smart by keeping their 2-liter bottles and ingredients under the baby beds or in their children's rooms.  Read it again, I'll wait ... Under their baby's beds!  These foster children aren't just exposed to the meth that comes in on Dad's clothes because he's cooking it in the back barn.  Mom and Dad are cooking it in the kid's bedrooms now.  When kids are exposed to meth in their homes and the state intervenes, the children aren't allowed to take ANYTHING with them, no clothes, extra shoes, toys, security blankets, binkies, nothing.  (They probably didn't have much to begin with anyway, but still.)  Meth can be so toxic, in extreme situations even the clothes they are wearing is replaced and they are given different (often used) clothing to wear.  Can we all agree this is going to be traumatic?  Why not give what we can to these children?  And when they ask where it came from?  My hope is that word will trickle down to them that there is a group of Christians in their community that love them.  (And honestly, I have a few non-Christian friends that are really loving these kids quite a lot too).  

We have no shortage of interest into our child's life and all the juicy details of his past.  Yet we are often asked, "Why are you doing this?",  "Why do you want to give to people who don't care about you, who you don't know, who you will never see?",  "Why would you want to give to the kids of meth-heads, heroin addicts, child abusers?",  "Why would you want to be a foster parent to these kids?"

Because Jesus freely gave to me 
when I was yet a sinner.  

And he continues to do so everyday.

Because Jesus has told us all to care for the widows and orphans.

I know that not everyone has been called to be a foster parent or an adoptive parent.  But I do believe that we have all been told by Jesus that we should be caring for the orphans, and not just the hungry ones half way across the world in Africa.  They are right here, in our towns, in our neighborhoods, and sometimes across our street.  

I am praying that the foster system and the children in it will know that we are Christians by our love. 

Bible Verse I'm Loving Today:
James 1:27
Song I'm Loving Today:

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