Saturday, March 1, 2014

I Could Never Do That...

Quickly becoming my least favorite thing is hearing anyone say regarding foster care, "I could never do that, I'd get too attached." Though it's not meant that way, it implies that we are robots who don't get attached to the children who live with us.


If people who WILL get attached won't foster, then who will? People who don't care much for children? People who treat children indifferently? People who don't celebrate the birthdays of their foster children? There are enough of those homes.


Sometimes love hurts. Children are being taken away from the only life they know. It's scary. It's confusing. My wish is for every one of them to find shelter with someone who is willing to be heartbroken. Someone who will love them. Someone who will learn all their favorites. Someone who will take pictures and celebrate their accomplishments. Someone who give them security and a sense of "normal" that they can carry with them into adulthood.


Thousands of children are in foster care here in Georgia. Our one private agency turns away multiple placements a week because they do not have enough homes. Not enough people willing to be hurt in order to love.


It's not about us. It's about them.


John 3:30 "He must become greater; I must become less."

3 comments:

  1. beautifully said Beth, may our Father continue to bless you both

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  2. I've heard that too and while I'm sure that loving them to see them leave is extremely hard, every child deserves a loving family - whether it's for 1 week or 1 year. If everyone would shift the focus off avoiding their own hurt, then they might start stepping up to the plate and trying harder to avoid more hurt in the life of a child. Thanks for being that family that stepped up to the plate, Beth and Jimmy!

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  3. My husband and I have a foster daughter who is turning three next month. We've had her since she was 5 weeks old. People say this to me weekly. It makes me sad. I always make the point that I wouldn't love/attach myself to myou biological daughter any less if I found out that she was dying or leaving for some reason. We only have today...let's love today without fretting about tomorrow! Thanks for sharing!

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