Tomorrow is Mother's Day. For 24 years, this has been a very difficult day for me. While I am VERY blessed to have a Godly mother, I am brought to tears each year. On this day, I don't get to hug my daughter. She doesn't look at me with love in her eyes and wish me happy Mother's Day. She hugs another woman. She wishes happy Mother's Day to another woman. The woman God chose to be her mom.
But for the past 5 years, I have been humbled. People wish ME a happy Mother's Day. This year, someone even sent me a dozen chocolate covered strawberries and said they were from all the children who can not tell me how much they appreciate me. While I am NOT the mother to these children.....I do like to think of myself as their "middle mom" (There is a book of this title that I highly recommend you read immediately).
This year.....the mothers of all of these children (30 so far) are heavy on my heart. Only 2 moms have earned renewed custody of their children. So, there are many moms out there who will not get to hug their children tomorrow. Their children will not wish them happy Mother's Day. And, while many people have said...."well, its their own fault, their own doing"....as I have stated before...their sin is no different from yours or mine. They are still moms. And they will still weep over missing their child on Mother's Day. So, this year....please join me in lifting these mothers in prayer. That God will grant them peace. That they will know His forgiveness, and be able to forgive themselves.
Because.....giving birth to a child DOES make you a mother. I love my daughter more today than I did the day she was born. And these moms, while they are not able to mother their children....ARE the mother to these children. They carried them for 9 months. They gave birth to them. And, while not shown in the same way you and I would show it...they LOVE these children.
So, remember to pray for them. To love them. Because....its Mother's Day.
Saturday, May 10, 2014
Sunday, May 4, 2014
Oh, what we can learn from them!
This has, personally, been a very difficult week for me. And, I allowed it (to be completely honest and transparent) to steal my joy. I have spent a lot of time in tears, and questioning God's path for my life, and in prayer. I have felt sorry for myself. Beyond that....I have pretty much wallowed in self pity. Woe is me....why did this happen...whaaa whaaa whaaa.
This morning, before getting all of us ready for Church, I was sitting in my chair watching my 2 precious girls play together (17 mos and 12 mos). They were laughing and playing, and joy was just pouring out of them. The 17 mo old has been with me almsot a year. Her bio mom is Bi polar, and would terrify this precious baby when she would transition into a manic phase. The 12 mo old has only been with me for 2 months, and came to me burned, and having never connected/bonded with her bio mom. Yet, these 2 little girls can find the smallest things to just DOUBLE over in laughter about. They smile at the simplest things. They look at me, and just BEAM with joy. If anyone has the right (not sure if this is the correct word, but its the best I can come up with right now) to wallow in self pity, to question WHY their life has gone this way, to spend hours in tears......these 2 girls have it! But, no......they choose to look at me, their "parent", their care giver, the person whose job it is to keep them safe.....and KNOW beyond any shadow of a doubt that I have their best interest at heart. That I am going to always do what is best for them. That I will not allow any one/thing hurt them.
Why then, do I not remember to look at my Heavenly Father with that same trust and faith??? What a wonderful way God chose to remind me of this fact. No matter what happens in my life....He is my Father. He will keep me safe. He has my best interest at heart. He is always going to do what is best for me. And, while there are things I allow to hurt me......I have allowed this pain because I am not trusting 100% in His plan for my life. He will never leave me nor forsake me.
The joy of The Lord is my stregnth! And, The Lord watches over ALL His children. Some He entrusts to me for a while, but He is always watching over them and showing them His joy! Oh, to have their innocence! Oh, to have their ability to trust completely! Oh, to remember that the joy of The Lord is MY strength!
Thank you, Father, for this reminder. For allowing me to see their joy.
This morning, before getting all of us ready for Church, I was sitting in my chair watching my 2 precious girls play together (17 mos and 12 mos). They were laughing and playing, and joy was just pouring out of them. The 17 mo old has been with me almsot a year. Her bio mom is Bi polar, and would terrify this precious baby when she would transition into a manic phase. The 12 mo old has only been with me for 2 months, and came to me burned, and having never connected/bonded with her bio mom. Yet, these 2 little girls can find the smallest things to just DOUBLE over in laughter about. They smile at the simplest things. They look at me, and just BEAM with joy. If anyone has the right (not sure if this is the correct word, but its the best I can come up with right now) to wallow in self pity, to question WHY their life has gone this way, to spend hours in tears......these 2 girls have it! But, no......they choose to look at me, their "parent", their care giver, the person whose job it is to keep them safe.....and KNOW beyond any shadow of a doubt that I have their best interest at heart. That I am going to always do what is best for them. That I will not allow any one/thing hurt them.
Why then, do I not remember to look at my Heavenly Father with that same trust and faith??? What a wonderful way God chose to remind me of this fact. No matter what happens in my life....He is my Father. He will keep me safe. He has my best interest at heart. He is always going to do what is best for me. And, while there are things I allow to hurt me......I have allowed this pain because I am not trusting 100% in His plan for my life. He will never leave me nor forsake me.
The joy of The Lord is my stregnth! And, The Lord watches over ALL His children. Some He entrusts to me for a while, but He is always watching over them and showing them His joy! Oh, to have their innocence! Oh, to have their ability to trust completely! Oh, to remember that the joy of The Lord is MY strength!
Thank you, Father, for this reminder. For allowing me to see their joy.
Sunday, April 13, 2014
It ain't all bad
There are a lot of things you hear during training....scary things. Bad things. Really, the worst case scenarios. But, I just want you to know.....it ain't all bad!
Romans 3:23 says....."For ALL have sinned, and fall short of the Glory of God". We are all sinners. How these bilogical parents have sinned.....its no different than our sin. Different consequences? Yes. Different outwardly appearance? Yes. But, we have all sinned.
And, let me tell you something. These babies....these children.....God is looking out for them! Their ability to laugh, to smile...to grow, to excel......in the face of all they have been through??? It should teach us all a lesson. God has a plan for us! Nothing that happens along the way can deter anyone from what God has in store.
When a child shows up, and is failure to thrive due to neglect.......God is there! When a child arrives, and is addicted to heroin.......God is there! When a child is brought to your home with broken bones......God is there!
Remember, it ain't all bad! God has made SURE that we are there to love this child through its darkest hour! He has made sure that we have the training, the heart, and the ability to bring them through their struggle! We ARE God's instrument! What an HONOR to be here for these children! What a huge responsibility! But, what an honor. He has entrusted us, and equipped us for this!
So, remember....it ain't all bad!
Romans 3:23 says....."For ALL have sinned, and fall short of the Glory of God". We are all sinners. How these bilogical parents have sinned.....its no different than our sin. Different consequences? Yes. Different outwardly appearance? Yes. But, we have all sinned.
And, let me tell you something. These babies....these children.....God is looking out for them! Their ability to laugh, to smile...to grow, to excel......in the face of all they have been through??? It should teach us all a lesson. God has a plan for us! Nothing that happens along the way can deter anyone from what God has in store.
When a child shows up, and is failure to thrive due to neglect.......God is there! When a child arrives, and is addicted to heroin.......God is there! When a child is brought to your home with broken bones......God is there!
Remember, it ain't all bad! God has made SURE that we are there to love this child through its darkest hour! He has made sure that we have the training, the heart, and the ability to bring them through their struggle! We ARE God's instrument! What an HONOR to be here for these children! What a huge responsibility! But, what an honor. He has entrusted us, and equipped us for this!
So, remember....it ain't all bad!
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