Monday, October 16, 2017

Love Never Fails

Some days I wish we could go back in time. If we could, I might dial the flux capacitor back to 11:00 on that Thursday night in September two years ago. The night we got the call, the call that a home was needed for Tiny Human. The night we were asked to be his foster parents for “a couple of months.” 

Now, a couple of months have stretched into two years. While in our home and under our care, Tiny Human has learned to potty in the big boy potty, he has learned to ride a tricycle, be gentle with pets, clean up his own messes, brush his teeth, dress himself (sort-of) and help Daddy Chad make blueberry pancakes. 

He has seen the mountains, and napped in a tent through the solar eclipse, watched fireworks and met the Easter Bunny. 

He is learning how to get along with big brothers and sisters. He has learned who Jesus is and we thank Him for our dinner. We pray The Lord’s Prayer together at night and talk about Heaven all the time. 

On Wednesdays he and I have a date. On our way to appointments we take the long way and drive through a long stretch of road construction just so Tiny Human can watch the cranes and road graters, dump trucks and paving trucks do their amazing work. 

He only likes to wear “soft pants"and his Batman shirt. And you have to know the “special trick” to help him put his jacket on. (It’s like our secret handshake.)

My point is I love this boy. This boy that I didn’t even know before that September night will now forever be in my heart. His parents have made great progress and it is looking more and more like they will be reunited with their son.  

The next few months of transition are not going to be easy. We are going to feel the loss and it’s going to hurt. If I could go back in time and just say “no” we could save ourselves a lot of pain. We could protect our hearts from all the uncertainty and heartache we’ve gone through over the last two years. 

We would also never experience what it’s like to be held, strengthened, guided and encouraged by God in the midst of the fog of circumstances that is foster parenting. In the midst of not knowing, we press on with the unchanging truth; the truth of the love of Jesus that never fails. The love of Jesus that rescued Tiny Human, the same love that is healing his parents, the same love that will heal the bond between Jacob and his “real mom and dad” will heal our hearts too. His love will always be there and His love never fails. 

When we said yes to the call on that late September night two years ago, we knew there would be days ahead when we’d question ourselves. We also knew that whatever we would face on the road ahead, we would be able to face it together and His Love would be enough. Once again, Jesus has proven Himself faithful. And He’ll do it again. We will continue to count the cost and say “yes” wherever He leads.