Bad & Good

My job seems to be centered around negativity. Screwed up parents, producing screwed up kids, and to be honest, we rarely see that cycle broken. Sometimes the kids we had the most hope for, slowly but surely become their parents. But sometimes, I get to see the cycle broken and that, my friends, is nothing short of a miracle!

Thanks to everyone's kind comments and prayers for the girl I recently posted about. Unfortunately things have only gotten worse for her and for our relationship. My last contact with her was a frustrating phone conversation where I finally just had to end it because I was shaking I was so furious and knew my filter was fading fast. My hopes for her have been slashed, at least for now. But it's not about me or the hopes I had for her or the time I put into her. I have to let go of that selfish mentality a lot.

However, since I can tend to focus on negative situations, I have a HUGE praise to report on!

27 months ago I took over the case of four very young children - abused and neglected and in shambles as they arrived in one of our foster homes. They didn't arrive in just any foster home...they were placed with some of the most Godly, selfless people I've ever known. A couple years later and  we now have healthy, well-adjusted children who make up praise songs about Jesus and have strong bonds with their foster parents and older foster siblings who welcomed them as their own.

Seriously, the transformation has been incredible.

And now, this morning I got to sit in a court room where both parent's relinquished their 'rights'; realizing their own instability and, for one of the first times, making a selfless decision to allow the foster parents to adopt and raise their biological children. There are still a few glitches to be ironed out, but overall this has been a clear act of God. Picture a very young mom, who's made a ton of terrible decisions, walking up to a very kind and put-together mom and hugging her and thanking her for loving her children in ways that she can't. Not only that, a foster family who welcomed the bio parents into their family and offered open adoption so the kids can know their birth parents. Talk about adopting for the right reasons.

I am so thankful for positive situations and a bright future for four darling children who have been given the chance to break the cycle of generational sin in their family. Praise Jesus!

10 comments:

Klint & Sarah said...

Oh my. PRAISE THE LORD!!!! Thanks for sharing. I love, love, love this. Brings tears to my eyes.

-Sarah

Devin B. Wieland said...

That's good news! We prayed for you and your job last night at worship practice.

Devin B. Wieland said...

I think I just fixed my stupid signature.

Betsy said...

This is remarkable, Em, and so encouraging after such a rough letdown with this other girl. I love how you're focusing on the positive, and how you're keeping hope alive by doing what you do. Love you!

smw said...

That is awesome!

Linda said...

Thanks for the update, Em, and we're praising God for this good news! I'm so thankful the children will stay where they feel safe and loved...and learn about Jesus!

Don't give up on the other situation- God can change her heart!

leah said...

got tears in my eyes too...as i told you! :)

love the hope you've shown through hard stuff.

love you friend--loved our walk today!

laura said...

Thankful that there are individuals like you that are willing to go through the good and the bad to influence and encourage these kids. Praying for you often! Love ya!

Molly said...

What a rare and wonderful story. Blessed to read it.

Sara Huber said...

Thanks so much for sharing this update. I really enjoyed reading it. Miss you!