Preparing to Part

Tomorrow, we return Skyler to his mother.  Though we've known this day was coming, it doesn't make it easy.  In our own ways, each of us is preparing to part with this sweet boy.  The seeds of love planted when we first laid eyes on him have been growing for 40 days.

When we first got him, I wondered to myself whether we can love someone while preparing to part.  Though I tried, in the back of my mind was always the thought that we would soon need to give him back.  What I have begun to realize is the wonderful lesson God had in store.  Not only is it possible to love, but He expects no less.  He expects that whether we have a child for 40 days, 40 months, or 40 years.  We may not always know how long we'll have a loved one in our lives, but we may be sure that they're impermanent.

Rather than looking forward with sadness, I cherish him/them today with loving abandonment.
Rather than clinging out of fear, I remind them (and myself) that I'm but a temporary caretaker for their Father in Heaven.

Forty days with Skyler has taught me, "that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to enjoy themselves as long as they live." (Ecc 3:12)  Cherish each moment trusting that in good times and bad, our Sovereign and loving Lord is in charge.

Meet Skyler

Meet Skyler.  He's not "ours" but for the first 40 days of his life, we have the privilege of caring for him and loving him as our own.

Safe Families seeks to fill a gap in our foster and welfare system.  Imagine being a parent doing everything you know how to care for your children.  Unexpectedly, you lose your job, your home, or your health...requiring an extended hospital stay.  You have no one to care for your children.  Safe Families works with various churches to screen and qualify "host families," who willingly become the hands and feet of Christ to those in need.  While others may quibble over the shortcomings of the foster care system or parents needing to take personal responsibility, Safe Families answers the calling to care for the least of us (Matt 25:31 - 40).

We've had Skyler for about 3 1/2 weeks.  During that time, I've wanted to share him with all of you but felt the need to hold back.  I share him now in the hopes that maybe someone reading this will be prompted to seek out Safe Families.  There's a need and it truly doesn't take much.  We don't have any special qualification to care for newborns.  All it takes is a bit of time and lots of love (which make those sleepless nights bearable).   And for that bit of effort, the rewards are so great.  Nothing quite compares with the joy of seeing a little creation develop with the first opening of his eyes, the first smile (or was that gas?), the first bath...  We have been inspired by acquaintances, friends, family and our church as they've responded by donating meals, formula, toys, supplies, diapers, prayer, and general love and concern.

For more information, http://www.safe-families.org/whatis_whowehelp.aspx.