A Call to Action

This post is a call to action for current and future foster parents. The number of children in state custody in Oklahoma is up by almost 300 this year to 8308. We need more foster parents, but in addition to that, we need foster parents who are willing to reach out to these birth parents. The children in foster care are only the symptom. We have to treat the cause, otherwise we will never have enough foster parents. Many of these parents are orphans too. Both the birth moms of our 3 foster children were raised in foster care. They aged out of the system, which means that when they turned 18, they were on their own with no help. They have both told me that they didn't know nice foster parents existed. I can only hope and pray that God has put us in their lives and in their children's lives to break the cycle.

I am asking that you pray for compassion for the birth parents of your foster children. Listen to their stories, be their friend and their mentor. God has brought you this extended "family." What are you going to do with it? You may be the only "Jesus" they see. It is not easy sometimes, because they will let you down often, but be overflowing with the grace that our Lord Jesus has given us.

I have never been so excited for Easter than I am this year. We are having both our birth moms over for Easter lunch and for an egg hunt with their kids. What a privilege it will be to show these women the love of Christ.

Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Luke 14:12-14