Are we ready for foster care and my honest answer to what lies ahead.
Are you ready?
This was a question I knew was coming once we announced we were choosing to open our home to foster care.
Even though I knew someone would ask this question, I still wanted to take the easy road and talk about how Roger and I (with a whole lot of help from my parents) have been gathering a variety of things we may need for babies, toddlers, and children ages 0-5.
But I knew that wasn’t what this person was asking.
So I ignored my natural instinct to avoid hard conversation, and the looming worry that the only reason they asked this question was that they weren’t really sure if we are ready (because why ask unless you are uncertain?).
Because I knew the answer in my heart.
Although I don’t know if anyone is ever ready for foster care (or parenthood), my answer is yes.
Yes. But only by God’s grace. 2 Corinthians 12:9
Yes, we know we have never been parents before, but we are going to learn on the job. We know we will make mistakes, but we are willing to learn, to change, to grow. Psalm 25:4
Yes, we are ready to choose to love each child that comes into our home as God loves them. 1 John 4:16 & 4:18 & Mark 9:36-37
Yes, we know it’s going to be hard saying goodbye, but we know foster care aims for reunification. Galatians 6:9 (Our hope is for safe and loving homes for these children)
Yes, our hearts may break a million times as we open our home and hearts to children who could be with us for one day or 3 years. But our love doesn’t come from us, it comes from God and shines through us. 1 John 4:7-8
Yes, we know this isn’t going to be easy, but we are trusting God to give us the strength as we need it. Philippians 4:13
Yes, our whole lives are about to change, but we don’t want to sit still. We are ready to do the hard work to glorify God. Colossians 3:23-24
Yes, we know that a year from now we will probably be looking back laughing at how little we knew. But we’ve seen how much work God has put into changing our hearts over the last year and we know that He is going to see us through whatever comes next. Psalm 90:17
Yes, but only through faith, in prayer, with love, and by God’s grace.
For those interested in reading more of my confessions from the heart click here.
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With love, Giusti
As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.
Psalm 71:14 NIV
