I Couldn't Do That

I Couldn't Do That. 

That is a phrase I hear so often when talking about fostering/fostering to adopt with others. What everyone is referring to, is that they can't see themselves loving a child and then possibly losing that child. It sounds awful doesn't it?? It has been my greatest fear and was my greatest fear for almost telling the Lord no that I wouldn't follow Him in this area. I've learned that I am not alone. 

I can't lie and say that I'm still not fearful of that very thing happening still. To tell you the truth, it would be my worst nightmare. But God. But GOD!!! It's in Him I'm keeping my sight on. We are following Him after all. Whatever comes, He has a plan. He has a purpose. 

When we first looked into fostering, we said we'd only foster children who were already adoptable. There is a longer wait for these children, because most of the children who are adoptable are adopted by the very parents who had been fostering them. But a longer wait did not scare us. By golly, we knew about waiting to adopt a child! HA! But something did not sit right in our hearts with this. So many hurting children in need of homes. So many. And why were we doing this in the first place? To satisfy a need of more children in our family? No. We wanted to bring a child into our home--one who didn't have the security of family. Of love. Of a hope. Of a future. Isn't this exactly what Christ has done to those who have chosen to follow Him and believe in Him? 

And so we made the decision to follow Christ into the fostering world. And many have asked us how we are able to do this? How are we guarding our hearts if the unimaginable happens and she is not able to remain with us? Our answer is simple. We are rejoicing in the Lord and all that He has given to us. We are not letting anxiousness get ahold of us. We are praying, praying, and PRAYING some more that the Lord will grant our requests to keep this darling girl with us. And we are keeping our eyes on Christ and are trusting in Him that He will guard our hearts! And that no matter what happens, God will give us peace. 

Philippians 4: 4-7

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

If we had not taken this step of faith, oh the joys we would have missed!

I'm hoping to update our journey with our littlest bitty girl soon.