As I mentioned last week, slowly the other
possible homes for James and Sarah fell through and left us and the current
foster family. The current foster family didn’t take their names off the list,
in case we fell through. They also made it seem like they were waiting to
decide if we cared enough about the kids. If they didn’t feel like we cared
enough, then they were going to adopt. It certainly made us feel manipulated
for continuous weekend respite care, not to mention extra scrutiny.
After much pressure, even though it was the
heat of tax season, we also agreed to keep the kids for part of Spring break so
that the foster family could go on a family vacation geared for their older
children. However, a few days before Spring break, the other family that was
going to take the kids for the other half of the week called and cancelled. We
were then pressured that if we really cared about the kids we would agree to
keep them longer than originally planned! I felt like we were already going way
out of our way and had already taken off some work time at a very busy time of
year.
After prayer and talking to my boss about a
creative work schedule, we agreed to keep the kids. It was quite a tiring week,
but we really bonded with them! It helped to be all together for more than just
a weekend!!! God used what seemed like unrealistic expectations to bring blessings.
I shouldn’t be surprised, as God can bring blessings from any impossible
situation, including death!
John 11:38-43
38 Jesus,
once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid
across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said. “But,
Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad
odor, for he has been there four days.” 40 Then Jesus said,
“Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” 41 So
they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you
that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but
I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe
that you sent me.” 43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a
loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his
hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus
said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”What are you facing that seems overwhelming, stressful, or impossible? Will you take it to God and then be willing to creatively participate in the solution? The greatest blessings often come out of the most difficult situations.
Alice
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