For the ONE

For the ONE: (An interview with a foster and adoptive mom from one of our counties)

Would you do it for ONE?

I grew up in a big family, and I have an adopted sister. For a lot of my life, James 1:27 has stood out to me. “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” (NIV).  I felt like there were spotlights on that verse. “I kept hearing these God whispers of …‘There’s children out there that need you.’”

I was married and had some of my own children, but I continued to feel the calling. A saying that is important to me is: “God is in control, but He doesn’t expect you to lean on a shovel and pray for a hole.” So, with prayer, we began the process and became licensed foster parents.

We began fostering, and it was more difficult than expected, but we still felt like this was something we needed to do. I am so grateful for the friends I made in foster training. We have leaned on each other, and the support has made such a difference.

We fostered for 4 years and welcomed 13 children into our home. I had much to learn, and it was a growing experience. While I felt that God had led me to rescue a child, I also needed rescuing. Jesus expanded my vision on what it means to love like Jesus- which includes loving those who are broken. Because of my experience fostering, I grew in Christ.

One of the 13 children we fostered stayed with us forever. We welcomed him into his forever home at 2 years old by adopting him, and he is now 10 years old. “He has so much to his story….He has really taught us the true meaning of love…We are growing closer to Jesus together, and it has just been an unbelievable story.” Our whole family has grown from our experience fostering. I learned so much that I need the Lord, and “He [Jesus] just gave us peace like no other”. 

It was so valuable to have people around us. “We were supported by such an amazing village of supporters and family and friends that came around us during the … time of fostering because it's not a journey that anybody is meant to do alone. I think it's amazing…when I think of fostering families and just having the church come together…that to me is just pure religion right there, coming together and … forming a village around those people that are doing this and doing it together.”  This has been so important and so helpful on our fostering journey.

That God would choose me to be the mom to ONE child out of foster care and get to love him forever is such a special calling. The Lord has led us to grow so much through fostering, and I am amazed at how the story has and is unfolding. To see the fruit of our labors and what God is doing in my own life and in the life of my child is truly amazing. God is faithful all the way.