I’m not really sure what it is about my front porch chimes that make me want to just sit here, listen, and think stuff. I also had a couple of rather lengthy drives today, and since neither of them involved M59, I94, or I75, that also provided me an opportunity to just think quietly all by myself.
I love my chimes, and I love days like today.
I’ve got a box sitting on my kitchen table filled with all sorts of things for a new baby – diapers, rattles, bibs, and infant clothing for our sweet little baby that the entire family has fallen head over heals in love with. He is beautiful, and sweet, and squishy, and he has stolen every one of our hearts. No one in my family has ever been a foster parent, so this is all pretty foreign to me, but it sure hasn’t taken very long to learn how very, very possible it is to love another child just as much as you love your very own.
My mind can wander into thinking so many potential scenarios. I haven’t figured out yet how to keep my feet on the ground, be a source of encouragement for my kids, and provide whatever help I can, recognizing boundaries, all the while knowing that an excruciatingly difficult heartache is not something I’m going to be able to help prepare them for, or protect them from.
So nowadays those chimes of mine remind me to pray. Boy, oh boy, I have prayed a LOT lately…
I’ve heard it said that self-sufficiency never leads to strong and passionate faith. Instead, self-sufficiency leads to hopelessness.
Like an abandoned and neglected newborn starved of nutrition, love, and nurture – only to become hopeless, finding even crying a waste of his own breath… So we can become as hopeless when we don’t lean fully into our Father’s love and care in ALL of our circumstances, but instead try to handle every one of life’s issues on our own. It’s futile.
I have watched a sweet little helpless baby boy be transformed from complete hopelessness due to having only himself to depend on – to a healthy, thriving, joyful, darling little bundle of joy. He has now fully realized his need of complete dependence for every one of his needs, and not only is his self reliance praise God! a thing of the past – he has come to fully trust that he WILL have all of his needs met when he cries out to the ones who love him. It’s SUCH a clear picture of how we ought to cry out to God – in complete confidence that He hears us, and He will answer!
This past month has been another opportunity for some perspective. The petty stuff? Oh my gosh… so easy to just let it go. But this kind of stuff – this is the stuff that matters.
So I’m keeping the chimes up a little while longer this winter, and I’m going to let them remind me to pray for a sweet little soul we all already love so much. May God never, ever, ever let anyone hurt or neglect you again, my little Peanut.
I & H – I’m so doggone proud of you two. I don’t even have appropriate words.
I never gave much thought to the possibility of spending my empty nesting years praying for the things I pray for now. It’s really something sweet to live long enough to see God use your kids for His Kingdom purposes, and that’s what He’s doing with you both as you answer the call to foster care. Keep your chins up. My chimes are singing a lot these windy days, and I’ve got you covered in prayers. One of the prayers I pray for you is that your children bring you as much joy as you’ve brought me.
God is so good. So good. And I Love you both.
Mum XOXO
“Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed” Psalm 82:3
Beautiful Rita!! I can remember many similar stories in our years of fostering, We will continue to pray for all of you! We know God has a plan!! ❤️❤️