Today we celebrated Orphan Sunday. I almost hate to use the word 'celebrate' as the current crisis of children without homes, parents or people to call family, is staggering. For many, it's easier to not know than to be haunted by the faces of those needing arms to snuggle in after scraping a knee or a place to sit at around the family table.
{ We came with just these items. }
This past January I received an email with a list of children needing immediate placement. These emails are daily; some with a few kids and others having multiple lists from here to Seattle needing placements. Three hours later after a few phone calls, family prayer and a mad dash to get a few things ready, Addi and I headed into the local DSHS office. We knew very limited information about the child we had said yes to a short term placement; two to three weeks was all that was needed. Thanks to
Skookum Kids, Miss Bee came with a few outfits, burp cloths, formula and bottles aside from her own diaper bag and own car seat. Weekly visits began a couple weeks later along with court room appearances and home visits with our social worker. Our family was quickly thrown into a new routine that all
foster families become familiar with when caring for children.
{ We left with this precious life. }
Figures from Children's Administration show:
In Washington 1,419 children became part of their forever families between July 1, 2015, and June 30, 2016.
About the same number 1,556 children are "legally free" and many of these children are waiting for a forever home.
Nearly 8,800 children were placed in out-of-home care living in foster care, as of mid-August.
Most people are surprised to learn there are 153 million orphans worldwide.
According to UNICEF (The United Nations Children's Emergency Fund), if orphans were a country of their own, the population would rank 9th in the world - ahead of Russia.
{ Myriam Judith two weeks old. }
Even though our Myriam was a private adoption, her journey to our home is just as significant as any other child's. Myriam's life is a miracle in and of itself. She was originally going to be terminated, but by the grace of God, that choice to end her life was detoured. When we were chosen to be her parents, there were two other families that were presented to our birth parents. They, for whatever reason, backed out of the situation leaving us as the option. God had perfectly carved the path from our birth parents to our family. It was a month after we met each other that we stood outside of the hospital room listening to Myriam's first cries.
{ Myriam at three months. }
There are many ways a family can expand their dining room table; foster care, domestic or international adoption, biological children. Not everyone has extra chairs;
not everyone is meant to take a child into their home.
I often think how the orphan crisis would be changed if every church were to take in more children, locally and globally. How did it get to be so many kids left without parents? Why is there not more attention, more focus and priority in placing these lost children with families?
My heart hurts for the girl whose mother left when she was a baby herself. For the child that questions themselves as to why they don't have their own forever family; who grieves for their biological parents. I struggle knowing that the three year old little boy cries at night because his favorite blanket was left at his home when he was removed or placed with a different foster family. For the little girl who is afraid of the dark and just needs a safe adult to rub her back until she falls into a deep sleep not knowing why she fears the nighttime. For the kids not in stable homes experiencing family traditions,
movie nights or to have family pictures.
How does God feel when He looks down at His children?
Does He want you to do more about this crisis?
In the end, I know this much; our family was blessed by simply saying yes to uncomfortable situations that grew our family to a hefty six pack. Our hearts were stretched; our ideas changed by experiencing life outside of our own. Our arms stronger from holding, bonding, and
hugging the kids we know to be ours on loan from God.
And come soon, things will be finalized and our family will be able to call this little one our own.
"Defend the cause of the fatherless."
Isaiah 1:17
