Fostering HopeSample

THE GIFT

I saw her crying, and it caught my attention. It was family night at a local restaurant, and while my kids played, I was people watching. And that's when I saw her. Crying. She looked to be early 30's - not much younger than me. Next to her was a baby carrier with a small infant inside. He was a different race than the family, and I wondered what their story was. Didn't take much to get the story. They were foster parents who wanted to adopt. A month ago they had been called about a newborn who the worker felt certain would be adopted - bio mom had a lot of history with DHS and had lost other kids. It was a done deal. At least in the minds of the worker and the parents. They went shopping. They bought baby furniture. Their friends threw them a shower. The celebrated. The baby came, and they fell in love. Took family pictures. Visited grandparents. Then, a call. "Can you bring the baby to the office? There is an aunt, and the baby is going to live with relatives." Devastation. Grief. Anger. Loss. Exhaustion. Emptiness. The mom mustered enough energy to say on the phone, 'No, it's supper time for my family. I will meet you tomorrow.' This was their last meal together. Family night at a local restaurant.

I bumped into them a month later, again at family night. This time smiles. Excitement. The mom came straight over to me and began filling me in. She had taken the baby to the DHS office. Along with diapers, and clothes, and bottles. And a photo album, filled with pictures of the baby. And one of them all together. She met the aunt, and bio mom was there too. Both were amazed that she had brought all the baby items. But most they were amazed at the pictures. There was hugging - a lot of it. And gratitude, and tears, but this time they didn't hurt so badly. It was a reminder that moms love their children, even when they aren't able to take care of them. That they are grateful for others who come along and love them too, even if they aren't able to fully express it. That even in the face of loss and grief, love wins. It wins.

PRAYER FOR KINSHIP FAMILIES: Lord, bless the kinship families who take in children who are part of their extended family. Give them the grace to change their lives to unselfishly love a child who is not their own. Keep them mindful that all plans are your plans, Lord. Amen.