Today my heart is broken. Broken because of broken systems. Broken because of broken homes and families. Broken because we live in a broken world.
My friend Liz, although I have only known her a short time, is one of the most loving women I know. She and her husband have such big hearts. I know this because it takes a special person to feel called to be foster parents.
Fostering is so full of uncertainty. Andy and I considered it and decided against it because of the high risk of being hurt when children have to leave. My cousin is fostering and told me that his outlook was that if he can impact the child’s life in a positive way even for a short time, he felt like it was worth it – worth the loss…worth the grief. I have heard this same perspective from many foster parents. That kind of heart is a rarity. Oh, how I wish I could have that kind of heart.
Liz and her husband have been fostering for a while and have had a few kids come through their home. I am not sure of the exact details since we have only known Liz for a short time, but I do know this beautiful baby girl born on Dec 27th has stolen their hearts. She was barely over 2 lbs when she was born and remained in NICU for almost all of her 3 mths of life, all the while, being visited daily by her foster parents – day in and day out – the only family she has. They prayed for her, loved her and jumped at the possibility of adoption when they realized she was eligible. They prepared her room and waited till the day she was medically cleared and discharged from the hospital to go home to her forever family. It took overcoming many hurdles to be discharged, but baby girl did it. She finally made it home with Liz. Knowing they would be adopting her, the family seized the opportunity to welcome baby girl home with a photo shoot of their new family of 6. Little did they know only a few short hours later would they get a call that would change the course of their lives – and that of baby girl.
Since baby girl requires the daily use of a nebulizer she must be placed in the care of a medically certified foster family. This type of certification is obtained simply by attending a couple of days of workshops. A certification which Liz does not have and is not able to obtain for months. Due to this minor technicality, baby girl will be removed from the only family she knows – the only people who love her. And it is happening TODAY.
My heart breaks for her. My heart breaks for Liz, her husband and 3 boys. My heart breaks for the thousands of kids stuck in the foster care system and for the families who fall in love with them and then watch them leave. It breaks for the adoptees and for the birth parents. There are so many hurting kids in this world – so many needing to be loved.
The system is flawed.
The world is broken.
As a follower of Christ, with experience in seeing the broken restored, I know that He makes all things good! I don’t understand it – nor do I try to anymore, but I know someday, somehow, something beautiful will rise from the ashes of this pain. I know that through the hurt Liz and her family will face as a result of having to say goodbye to this precious baby girl, something good will come from it. Once the hurt and anger is healed, JOY will once again return and a passion will be birthed inside of them.
The Eddings family have firsthand knowledge of this restoration that happens only through Christ. They tragically lost not one, but TWO, boys within days of each other. Yet, they know God is good. They grieve, forgive and continue to have joy. Their pain is slowly being transformed into something completely beautiful.
That is my prayer for Liz and her family. I pray something beautiful to come out of this. I pray protection over their hearts so that anger doesn’t take root. I pray God’s comfort and peace will blanket them giving them assurance that He is in control.
In the midst of this broken world, there is hope.
There is restoration.
Easter Sunday was proof of brokenness becoming beautiful - as you gathered with family yesterday, I hope you remembered exactly that.
Please pray for Liz, her family and baby girl - and for all of the orphans in the world.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet[a] no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end – Ecclesiastes 3:11
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” – Psalm 46:10
My friend Liz, although I have only known her a short time, is one of the most loving women I know. She and her husband have such big hearts. I know this because it takes a special person to feel called to be foster parents.
Fostering is so full of uncertainty. Andy and I considered it and decided against it because of the high risk of being hurt when children have to leave. My cousin is fostering and told me that his outlook was that if he can impact the child’s life in a positive way even for a short time, he felt like it was worth it – worth the loss…worth the grief. I have heard this same perspective from many foster parents. That kind of heart is a rarity. Oh, how I wish I could have that kind of heart.
Liz and her husband have been fostering for a while and have had a few kids come through their home. I am not sure of the exact details since we have only known Liz for a short time, but I do know this beautiful baby girl born on Dec 27th has stolen their hearts. She was barely over 2 lbs when she was born and remained in NICU for almost all of her 3 mths of life, all the while, being visited daily by her foster parents – day in and day out – the only family she has. They prayed for her, loved her and jumped at the possibility of adoption when they realized she was eligible. They prepared her room and waited till the day she was medically cleared and discharged from the hospital to go home to her forever family. It took overcoming many hurdles to be discharged, but baby girl did it. She finally made it home with Liz. Knowing they would be adopting her, the family seized the opportunity to welcome baby girl home with a photo shoot of their new family of 6. Little did they know only a few short hours later would they get a call that would change the course of their lives – and that of baby girl.
Since baby girl requires the daily use of a nebulizer she must be placed in the care of a medically certified foster family. This type of certification is obtained simply by attending a couple of days of workshops. A certification which Liz does not have and is not able to obtain for months. Due to this minor technicality, baby girl will be removed from the only family she knows – the only people who love her. And it is happening TODAY.
My heart breaks for her. My heart breaks for Liz, her husband and 3 boys. My heart breaks for the thousands of kids stuck in the foster care system and for the families who fall in love with them and then watch them leave. It breaks for the adoptees and for the birth parents. There are so many hurting kids in this world – so many needing to be loved.
The system is flawed.
The world is broken.
As a follower of Christ, with experience in seeing the broken restored, I know that He makes all things good! I don’t understand it – nor do I try to anymore, but I know someday, somehow, something beautiful will rise from the ashes of this pain. I know that through the hurt Liz and her family will face as a result of having to say goodbye to this precious baby girl, something good will come from it. Once the hurt and anger is healed, JOY will once again return and a passion will be birthed inside of them.
The Eddings family have firsthand knowledge of this restoration that happens only through Christ. They tragically lost not one, but TWO, boys within days of each other. Yet, they know God is good. They grieve, forgive and continue to have joy. Their pain is slowly being transformed into something completely beautiful.
That is my prayer for Liz and her family. I pray something beautiful to come out of this. I pray protection over their hearts so that anger doesn’t take root. I pray God’s comfort and peace will blanket them giving them assurance that He is in control.
In the midst of this broken world, there is hope.
There is restoration.
Easter Sunday was proof of brokenness becoming beautiful - as you gathered with family yesterday, I hope you remembered exactly that.
Please pray for Liz, her family and baby girl - and for all of the orphans in the world.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet[a] no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end – Ecclesiastes 3:11
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” – Psalm 46:10