We have become a licensed foster to adopt family through Buckner. Oh what an incredible journey of faith it has taken just to get that far. We never dreamed nor planned of doing such a thing. It wasn't apart of our five year plan, or our ten year plan; it just was NEVER apart of the plan. Actually, if you ask my husband his plan was to have TWO children, definitely NOT four. So when, I say miracles, I mean miracles!! Its kind of comical to see what our plan was and now see where God has taken us. All I can say is never think you can out plan God, it doesn't work! LOL! It took some time, years, for us both to really believe that still small voice we were hearing calling us to step out in faith and love one more. I'll tell you its a scary thing stepping out onto the waters of faith and trusting that what God is saying to do and where He is leading IS the right path. As I write that, it sounds like a "no brainer" but in reality it has been a tough slow act of obedience.
I look back over my life and so see the handprints of God in the little things that set us on this path. My heart has always been the soft one that sees people a little differently than most. I'll never forget a youth camp experience that Janet White shared to imagine all with a sign around their neck that states, "Make Me Feel Special." If you know me well, you have heard me say that over and over, as it has become apart of who I am. Seeing that one that doesn't fit in, that one that needs a little more love than most are willing to give, that one that doesn't say much but has so much to say, that one that no one wants to friend because her past and even her present sends sparks through the veins of those around, that one that gets on every ones nerves, that one that is just well...different. I tend to see the good in people before I see the bad, or maybe its that I want to believe there is good in all people and I look for it as to prove the bad away. God has also used the so called failures and hurts in my life as well to help me see and feel and have compassion for those around me. I believe He has allowed me to be in positions that were somewhat less desirable so that I could understand more where someone else was coming from.. He has used all of those things to help me to see that loving others to Him is one of the greatest journeys there will ever be. Hard and completely crippling at times but by far the greatest blessing.
So as we finally said, "YES" to follow where God was leading our faith journey, I believe it is only getting started. Love Them More continues to grow in theme in our house. There are so many aspects to being a foster to adopt family and many unknowns that can't be controlled no matter how badly you try to work them to be. It's a vulnerable state to live in saying "Yes" to God and not really knowing what will happen next. I can't say that I have ever been one that has lived on the edge or the wild side or even adventurous. It was always too scary to me. I was one that was afraid to do anything outside of the rules in fear of getting in trouble or failure. I was a "safe zone" kind of girl. Being a foster family completely removes the safe zone from your vocabulary! There is no such thing, as you don't really know what the child will be like coming into your home nor do you really know what will unravel while they are there. Yikes! Nothing safe or comfortable about that at all! The funny thing is, there is no place I would rather be. It has been in those stepping out of the comfortable and safe places that God has used me the most and showed Himself mightily. Now, I'm not saying we should all be foster parents, or all move to Africa, or all jump off a cliff because any of those could send us into hyperventilation mode or could be an absolute STUPID move for us. I believe that is where the discerning the voice of the Lord comes in and seeking Him wholeheartedly to know where exactly He is leading you. I have to say though, that when God is leading you it will not always feel comfortable or safe but there will be peace! But do us all a favor and please NO JUMPING OFF CLIFFS, even if everyone else is doing it and their mom says its okay! ;-)
My prayer is that through this blog the Lord will encourage you on in your own journey as you get to read about mine. And that what is typed will only lead you back to Jesus, The One and Only!! So lets get moving....life is waiting to happen!
