05 Jun Ketchup, milk, & laundry detergent
Ketchup, milk, and laundry detergent. These three things may appear to be just your normal household staples. However, for my husband and I, the quantity of these three item have greatly increased on our weekly shopping list over the past month. This change happened as we welcomed two young boys into our home.
We received our official license to become foster parents on a Monday…and by Friday, we were meeting two boys who are brothers. Although it’s been only a short time since we met these boys, we both already recognize it’s is not only our grocery list that has increased, but also our belief in the ministry of caring for orphans and vulnerable children. It’s been a great experience as we encounter the changes in our everyday lives, but an even greater one as we have encountered a heart change as well.
“If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it”
We are both relatively new at this foster parent thing, and also new at the parenting thing altogether. My husband and I didn’t have children prior to these boys entering our family. We are both quickly learning about how both difficult and rewarding parenting can be. Most rewarding is how we have laughed more as we share our lives with these boys. It seems simple, but they truly have been a source of such joy. One of my favorite promises from God is found in Luke 9:24.“If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.” I have seen this promise fulfilled for me through the journey of fostering. As we have given our life away to obey God and serve these boys, we have found more of the life that God wants to give us. He has given us joy in ways we have never experienced.
Each day, we are seeing the Lord use us to be these boys’ advocates. They were in need of someone to support them in their school work, medical needs, and much more. They came to us behind in their education due to missing a lot of school and not having the proper support at home to meet their academic needs. In a short time, we have been able to step up and fill in some of the missing gaps. They also had some medical needs that were obvious to us when we first met them. We have been able to help support them and have already helped them to grow in this area.
As we have given our life away to obey God and serve these boys, we have found more of the life that God wants to give us.
But these boys aren’t the only ones who are being changed. We are seeing it in us, too. Even more obvious than our changing grocery list is our heart change. God has given us more life. We have encountered God inviting us to care about the things that he cares about. His Word tell us over and over that his heart is for the children who are without someone who cares for them. He loves them deeply. He commands us to protect and love them. In Psalm 82:3, God says to us, “Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the fatherless.” Our hearts have changed as we have seen God give us a deeper desire to care for these children.
My husband and I feel privileged that the Lord has called us to this. He is allowing us to uphold their cause and defend these young boys. These two boys were given to us so quickly that we cannot deny the need for foster parents is real and immediate. He continues to confirm our obedience we get to know these children and see the many needs in their lives. We believe now more than ever that fostering is an incredible ministry.
His heart is for the children who are without someone who cares for them. He loves them deeply.
I feel honored that we have the chance to share some of our fostering experience with others. We hope to share our story with whoever will listen. We want to tell others about how our grocery list has changed, how our hearts have changed, and most importantly, how we have found more life by giving ours away.
-Amy Johnson
For more information about OVC foster + adopt,
check out our webpage.