Pastor’s Corner September 2010

The following was published in our monthly newsletter, the Redeemer Report.

How Foster Care has blessed our family
We became a foster care family over a year ago. Since this time last year we have had seven different little ones in our home. Our latest placement, a seriously cute baby girl, has been with us since March 5. Foster care has changed our family.

So far the blessings have outweighed the difficulties, but there are challenges. The licensing process takes some time. Attending a ten-week class is the required first step. A home study is then required, followed by a few additional interviews. Further, there are various safety requirements for your house, which for us meant putting an e-gress window in our basement and a few other minor modifications. Each year you have to get re-licensed which isn’t as tough as initial licensing, but keeping up your CPR certification and other little things requires time and attention. After licensing the toughest challenge is the initial adjustment when a new child or children are suddenly in your home and part of your family structure. It’s a shock at first, especially when you tend to be a routine-oriented household. In the end, the hardest challenge may be when you have to part with the child because he goes back to his home or to another care provider. Our first placement lasted almost 10 weeks. Little Xavier came to us with burns over a good portion of his torso. Caring for his wounds several times a day created a bond with him that was special. It was very tough giving him back, I won’t kid you. We praise God for an ongoing relationship with his grandparents that enable us to see him every few months, but we know that this is not typical.

Despite the challenges, having a relationship with a child who needs a loving family for a special time in their life, is a great blessing and in my opinion, trumps all difficulties. It is a blessing to that child, but I’ll tell you what- what a blessing to our family! I am convinced that they have been more of a blessing to us, than we have been to them. Caring for a needy little one takes your eyes off self and turns them to the needs of one of the “least of these” (see Matthew 10:42, 25:40, and Hebrews 6:10). Our boys still struggle with sibling rivalry and selfishness (being like their father), but our various foster children have evoked compassion and selflessness in each of them like we’ve never seen before. Our little foster baby girl is treated like royalty by the boys. They absolutely LOVE her. It’s great for them to love her, and it’s great for her to be loved.

We’re not sure what the future holds for us as foster parents, we’d love to adopt, but are content to continue to foster children if the Lord wills. I do not think everyone should be a foster parent, nor do I ever want to put a guilt trip on people about fostering. I do think Redeemer has some wonderful families who could provide loving homes for children in need. Will you pray about possibly becoming a foster care family?

In the Lamb,
Pastor Tony Felich