Every time I hear “City on our Knees” by Toby Mac, I think of hope. I think of all the children in danger of entering foster care, in foster care already, and waiting in foster care ready to be adopted. I think of that song calling our families, in our city, in God’s kingdom to open up their hearts to these children.
Who are these children? In our case they are Karen and Jen. They came as teenagers who lived 13-15 terrifying years in a home that denied necessities like food and water. A home where daily abuse hurt physically and emotionally. Make- up consisted of black eyes, red bruised lips and new scars for accessories.
Toby Mac sings, “If you gotta start somewhere why not here.” So starting here for us was starting at the basics. Can we show them love? Yes. Can we provide necessities and privileges? Yes. Can we handle their emotional strongholds? Yes. Jesus will not give us what we can not bear. He is our Wonderful Counselor.
“If you gotta start sometime why not now?” We have 2 teenage boys. Is now a time to bring in 2 teenage girls?! Yes. What better time to show them what a young man of God looks like. What better examples to teach them that men can be responsible, loving, and compassionate vs. deadbeats, violent, intoxicated and heartless.
“Through the fog there is hope in the distance.” We see it in their eyes. The change to our house rules and routines is overwhelming. Adapting to a new school that focuses on academics, having to find new friends that are good for them and so suburban, how to fit in?! Truly a fog, but there is hope. We see their hope as they begin to see this as their chance at a childhood with friends, activities, cell phones, shopping, and the opportunities that a good school and a family who values education can give them in their future – things they never dreamed of before.
“From cathedrals to third world missions.” From the Student Ministry at Perimeter to our Community Outreach volunteers.
“Love will fall to the earth like a crashing wave.” Washing their darkness completely away. Two girls planted in a bad home that have now blossomed into beautiful young women and who are already trying to bring others to Christ! Already dreaming of how they too as adults can help children who have lived their lives.
“Tonight’s the night.” There was no perfect time to consider Foster Care. In fact there are thousands of excuses. We hear them all. We had some of our own, but God saw through that. All He had to do was put these two girls in our path, and it very shortly became not a question of “if” but a question of “when.” It was a “tonight.” Yes, tonight let’s ask them if they want to live with us.
“For the sinners and the saints.” We hear it all the time, “You are saints. ” Not at all! But we did obey His calling, and we did believe. That’s the label to attach to to our family. We are believers that all things turn out for good, that He will provide if we just ask, that His ways are always better than ours.
“Two worlds collide in a beautiful display.” The broken orphans colliding with a family God had waiting for them all along. Neither aware of the other before— but what an amazing mosaic now.
“It’s all love tonight. When we step across the line.” When we hand over our fears, our excuses, our insecurities, and our comforts. When we look into the eyes of a hurting child— and this time we hand over our hope, our love, our treasures, and our time, and we tell them they are loved and safe tonight.
And tomorrow is a new a day. A new day to begin the work of rescuing their brother out of that darkness as well. A new day of working towards adoption of 3 more children into our mosaic family.