Timing
Whenever we start to doubt that the Lord knows what He's doing, He almost immediately reminds us that He knows what He's doing. And that He has a great sense of humor.
Beth and I are somewhat nervously excited about being foster parents. Nervous because it's going to pop the nice little bubble we live in, but excited because we will have a unique opportunity to influence the future of one or many children's lives.
But now that we are nearly three years removed from that first informational meeting at the Fairfax County office, and have yet to influence any futures, it is easy to wonder if we are still walking along the right path or if we have stalled out somewhere. And when we hear about the massive need for foster parents in other areas, it is easy to wonder, why did we choose one of the wealthiest areas in the world, where there are only 200-some-odd foster children in a county of 1.2 million? So twice now, we have asked God whether we are in the right place or whether we should start over somewhere else. And twice He has answered.
I think spring of 2017 was the first time. We weren't approved yet and our social worker was MIA. We hadn't heard a peep from her in about three months. We were okay with this because we're not exactly in a hurry to turn our lives into perpetual chaos, but it still made us wonder.
Since we have no family within five hours of us, there is not a whole lot anchoring us to DC. So one morning we prayed very specifically about moving (to a certain location I won't name because I don't want to disappoint anyone). That afternoon, our social worker called us to set up a meeting and get the process moving again. She apologized for the delay. Apparently when you have heart failure, other things become less important. Needless to say, we thanked God for giving us such quick confirmation that we were still in the right place.
As you may know, we got our license in December of 2017, and we were ready. Ready for any call, anytime. After a few weeks, friends started asking - any calls yet? Nope! After a few months, people were already incredulous - nothing yet?? After a full nine months without a single call, I think most people have decided we have a secret criminal history and the county must be avoiding us.
So we started to wonder again. Last week we returned from a vacation in California, where the weather was even more perfect than usual, and it was very comfortable hanging out with friends and family. We thought, we could get used to this! And so once again, we started praying.
Yesterday, I drove Beth to work because one of our cars is at the mechanic. By the time I got to work myself, I already had an email from Beth saying she forgot her phone at home. This is approximately the 2nd time in twelve years that that has happened. When we got home that evening, sure enough: there was a message on Beth's phone from that morning asking whether we could take a nine-year-old girl. By the time we called back, she'd already been placed.
Our first call in nine months. On the one day we couldn't take it. God is hilarious. And if you're not convinced it was God, ask yourself why they didn't call any of the other three phone numbers they have for us.
So this morning as I was still marveling at the "coincidence," I wondered why God did that (I ask why a lot). And I felt like He replied, you just needed another reminder that you are still in the right place; you are just not ready yet.
And so here we are, with a renewed trust that we are walking in His will. It's a wonderful feeling. Now, if only He could bring some of that California weather over to the east coast....
Beth and I are somewhat nervously excited about being foster parents. Nervous because it's going to pop the nice little bubble we live in, but excited because we will have a unique opportunity to influence the future of one or many children's lives.
But now that we are nearly three years removed from that first informational meeting at the Fairfax County office, and have yet to influence any futures, it is easy to wonder if we are still walking along the right path or if we have stalled out somewhere. And when we hear about the massive need for foster parents in other areas, it is easy to wonder, why did we choose one of the wealthiest areas in the world, where there are only 200-some-odd foster children in a county of 1.2 million? So twice now, we have asked God whether we are in the right place or whether we should start over somewhere else. And twice He has answered.
I think spring of 2017 was the first time. We weren't approved yet and our social worker was MIA. We hadn't heard a peep from her in about three months. We were okay with this because we're not exactly in a hurry to turn our lives into perpetual chaos, but it still made us wonder.
Since we have no family within five hours of us, there is not a whole lot anchoring us to DC. So one morning we prayed very specifically about moving (to a certain location I won't name because I don't want to disappoint anyone). That afternoon, our social worker called us to set up a meeting and get the process moving again. She apologized for the delay. Apparently when you have heart failure, other things become less important. Needless to say, we thanked God for giving us such quick confirmation that we were still in the right place.
As you may know, we got our license in December of 2017, and we were ready. Ready for any call, anytime. After a few weeks, friends started asking - any calls yet? Nope! After a few months, people were already incredulous - nothing yet?? After a full nine months without a single call, I think most people have decided we have a secret criminal history and the county must be avoiding us.
So we started to wonder again. Last week we returned from a vacation in California, where the weather was even more perfect than usual, and it was very comfortable hanging out with friends and family. We thought, we could get used to this! And so once again, we started praying.
Yesterday, I drove Beth to work because one of our cars is at the mechanic. By the time I got to work myself, I already had an email from Beth saying she forgot her phone at home. This is approximately the 2nd time in twelve years that that has happened. When we got home that evening, sure enough: there was a message on Beth's phone from that morning asking whether we could take a nine-year-old girl. By the time we called back, she'd already been placed.
Our first call in nine months. On the one day we couldn't take it. God is hilarious. And if you're not convinced it was God, ask yourself why they didn't call any of the other three phone numbers they have for us.
So this morning as I was still marveling at the "coincidence," I wondered why God did that (I ask why a lot). And I felt like He replied, you just needed another reminder that you are still in the right place; you are just not ready yet.
And so here we are, with a renewed trust that we are walking in His will. It's a wonderful feeling. Now, if only He could bring some of that California weather over to the east coast....
LOVE THIS, YOUR FAITH AND YOU TWO!!
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