Before Q and I got married I was attending the local community college. During my last semester I did an internship at a foster care agency in order to fulfill the requirements for an associates degree in Human Services. A lot of the work I did was in the office but I went out in the field a few times to meet with foster children in their schools or in their foster homes. Their life stories and circumstances led me to claim that I would never foster or adopt.
> I didn’t want to have to deal with someone else’s broken world.
> I wanted the easy life; children of my own.
Well, we all know where that got me…a beautiful life with two beautiful adopted babies and a heart for adoption, orphans, and foster care. It’s a little thing called the sovereignty of God!
I’m sure there’s someone reading today that is having or has had the same thoughts. Foster care, adoption, orphans…not for me!
That little persons broken world might just break mine so I’d better take the easy route and avoid their heartache and mine.
We’ve all heard it before — everyone is not called to adopt or foster. But, all Christians are called to do something.
There are approximately 153 million orphans worldwide.
There are approximately 400,000 children in U.S. foster care.
Do those numbers mean anything to you? Do those numbers cause you to question what you might be able to do to help?
It’s true. We’re not all called to adopt or foster, but there are so many ways to make a difference in the global (and local) orphan crisis.
Image Courtesy of Africa / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
1. PRAY for families who are called
2. GIVE financially to an adoptive family
3. ENCOURAGE adoptive families
4. GO on mission to a foreign orphanage
5. PARTICIPATE in Orphan Sunday or the 111 Project
Whatever you do, don’t do nothing.
“Children aren’t meant for orphanages, they’re meant for families.“
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Christie is a stay-at-home mom to two beautiful little girls, a pastor's wife, and lover of Jesus. Her hope is that STC would be a source of encouragement for women all over the world!
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I can so relate to saying never to God
“I will never live in Arizona” – lived there for two years
“I will never live in that small town” – where we currently build a house & love living in
“I will never foster” – We just became a foster family home last month
Wow, Katie. I have said no to the Lord waaay too many times. I’ve realized that He always wins, though 🙂
Thanks for stopping by! Praying for your foster experience!
Christie
Haha! Isn’t it funny how those things we say we’ll never do are the exact things we end up doing. Sometimes I wonder if God’s like “oh yeah, I’ll show you” 🙂
I love this! It’s so true. This is a huge problem and it’s an even bigger problem that many churches aren’t even mentioning it!
Yes, what’s great though is He gives you a heart for it, too! What an awesome God we serve!
And, I agree. The church needs to speak out more on it. Many people don’t even know the truth because nobody speaks about it.
Trying to do my part to change that!
I have always wanted to foster, but my husband has not felt led yet. So in the meantime, we have become involved with Living Word Foster initiative here in Arizona. It is a way to help foster children and their foster families. For those needs that aren’t covered through the stipend that the parents get. I’m glad that your “no” turned into “yes.” Have a wonderful day!
My sister fostered for years. It takes someone with a real calling to do that. There is so much heartache. I know the rewards are unbelievable too!
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