On Friday, August 22, 2014 around midnight, we met a sweet four day old baby girl. We weren't given much information, just that she needed a home. Immediately we feel in love with Baby A. She only weighed a little over five pounds and we couldn't get enough of her. The family went into "new baby" mode and adjusted well. Micah-Grace and T were smitten by her. I am not even sure they were convinced it was a baby considering she was so little. With sleepless nights, formula all over and diapers everywhere we began the journey into the unknown with Baby A.
The grace and faithfulness I experienced caring for three children is indescribable. The Lord knew Baby A would be in our lives and prepared the way for her arrival but most of all, He prepared our hearts. You never really know how long a child will be placed with you in the world of foster care. Every time you say yes you must rid yourself of expectations, hopes and anything else standing in the way of just caring for that child. The foster care process has given me more trust in Jesus than I ever had before.
Tonight I received a call from the social worker telling me the judge approved for Baby A to be placed with an aunt of hers. My heart sank a little as I listened to her giving me the details of her arrival to pick up Baby A in about forty-five minutes. As I got off the phone I began to pray for Baby A's future. I prayed that God would protect her...that He would keep her safe and give her a blessed life...that her hard beginning in life wouldn't keep her from being all she could be...most of all that she would one day worship her creator...that she would know how much Christ loves her.
It's not easy saying good-bye. You look at this sweet baby and wonder what will their life be like. Will she ever know she will always have a special place in our heart? You don't forget. You pray, remembering that God called you to love every child that comes into your home. If for one day, one month, one year, one forever...just love them as Christ loved us. So that's what we will continue to do knowing that He is in control and knows all of our children by name.
"'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'
'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'"
Matthew 25:34b-36, 40b
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