[I know I have used this verse in a blog before, but this verse returns to me almost daily and it's the promise that sustains us through so much.]
[I NEVER HIT PUBLISH! I WROTE THE BLOG MORE THAN 18 MONTHS AGO - SINCE THEN DYLAN HAS MADE AN INCREDIBLE RECOVERY AND WE ADOPTED THAT FIRST FOSTER - OUR SWEET ALLISON. BUT I STILL WANTED TO SHARE IN CASE SOMEONE NEEDED TO HEAR - HE OVERCAME!]
When I had my first son I thought I had a handle on the whole baby thing, but about a week after he was born, friends started sharing the truths no one tells you about the first months of parenting. I learned about hormone slumps, marital stress, physical stress, and the horrors of what really happens to your body. Everyone's tales were similar and the consensus seemed to be: this time is horrible in many ways and you might hate life for a minute, but it's all worth it.
Nick and I recently entered the world of foster parenting. We were prepared. We went to all of the classes, watched the videos, and heard the horror stories. I have prosecuted multiple cases that involved children who were in foster care and had seen that side of the equation. We have friends who foster. We knew what we were getting into. Right.
Our first placement came to us in mid-June. About a week later, a friend who fosters reached out with the truths no one tells you. Her words: "Praying for you! When you do foster care or adoption, you are bringing hell into your home. Many of these kids are firmly in the grip of the enemy. There is no hope of meeting Christ in their birth homes. When they are snatched from the enemy's hand, he fights for them. He will stress you beyond belief, attack your marriage, attack your children. Recognize it. Claim victory."
The day after our foster arrived, the upstairs A/C broke. The next day the dryer checked out. The DVD player in the car broke at the start of a 45-hour road trip around the U.S. Nick and I had to have a heart-to-heart about how to deal with the new stresses (if you read between the lines, that means it was a rough go there for a minute - I laughed to keep from crying and he "got something in his eyes"). Then just when we thought we were finally at least dog-paddling along in the deep-end with our head above water, our eldest son fell from a tree in another state while visiting relatives and landed in the PICU with a fractured pelvis, broken wrist, and a long recovery ahead of him. That tree was 12-hours away from me and 15-hours from his dad, and we were heartbroken and scared and worried. And you know what? I was not okay with this new development.
You see, throughout the last month with our placement, I have prayed. I have recognized the attacks. I have claimed victory - but I always added the caveat "please leave my children out of this." At first blush, it may seem that God refused to honor that plea. But, I want you to look at the verse at the top of this blog. "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
Yes, my son fell. Yes, he was hurt. Yes, I do attribute this to another attack. But God has overcome. He has overcome. It is finished. We may encounter attacks, but HE OVERCAME and the power of the blood of the lamb outweighs any weapon formed against us. He protected my son and my little man will recover and have a tremendous testimony to share. But God didn't just protect - no, he is our God of love and mercy who seeks to comfort His children, so He went further than we could ask and He also provided for us and our son. Nick (my son's stepdad) was supposed to be in Las Vegas for work this week, but plans changed and he ended up going to a far less glamorous place in the middle of nowhere - less than 4 hours away from that stinkin' tree and our precious son who needed a parent by his side. Nick's presence gave our son, my son's dad and step-mom, and me peace even though our little tree climber is far from home.
Our little man has a long road to recovery ahead of him, and there are still many more questions than answers, but God's promise is the final answer - "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
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