Mom for child 1 & 2 goes to court today. She is petitioning for more frequent visitation. We stand beside her in this decision and petition. This is a mom despite all her iniquities, truly loves her children. With help, knowledge, examples and people to walk beside her we know she can do this and do it well. She loves her children above everything. We all have vices, things we struggle with and sometimes those things win over higher priorities in our lives. Are we condemned for them, do we lose our children over them? No we are given the mercy and grace of God every time. This mom has not been given that by the courts or by her own family.
We are not saying what this Mom did was right or that the State didn’t have the right to intervene. What we are saying is this mom deserves the resources to help her be the Mom she so deeply desires to be. Her family does not support her but we do. We see the struggles she has overcome one by one, we see the realistic goals she has set before herself and we walk beside her to obtain those goals.
Nearly 2.5 months ago the court stepped in and took these children from our care and handed them over to the family that does not support Mom. The family lives in Mississippi and although they promised the court every other weekend visits to Nashville they have come only once a month allowing mom only a couple hours each weekend. She deserves to see her children a few hours each week. This will strengthen the will and desire she has to be “that” mom her children so deserve and that she is so deeply striving to be.
Please stand with us in prayer for this mom and her two beautiful children. These are 3 of God's precious children needing the body of Christ to lift them up and walk with them.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Battle vs War
The interesting part of fostering that most people do not understand is that we do not "keep" the children. Is that a good thing? In some cases yes. Most children do eventually need to go back "home". Is that home what you and I would call home? No, most likely not, but it is their home, it is their mom and or dad and it is what they know.
What you know can be comfortable even if it is neglect, abuse or abandonment. This is why we believe change is so hard even for those of us who are not neglectful, abusive and would never consider abandoning our children. We can all strive to be better and how hard is it for you to change? Change is hard even if it is good, especially for a child torn from their home and the only "normal" they knew.
The best we could explain to our children is the analogy of war. There are several, sometimes 100's of battles fought in a war each side loses some of those battles but ultimately only one side can win. Yes, we we've lost a battle or two but we are still in the war. We have learned about the war we are in, we are learning and developing skills to better defend the innocent and with each battle we will become more skilled and hopefully the children will begin winning more and more battles. After all if we do not fight for the children who will, they certainly cannot fight on their own.
We, unlike the state, are of the mind set that sometimes these children need a new home and that change even though it would be hard will be ultimately in the best interest of the child. Just like in battle and a soldier has wounded a limb, the limb might not be repairable and it needs to be amputated. The soldier might fight and cling to the limb, reach for it even after it is gone but ultimately the limb needed to be removed in order to save the soldiers life. There wasn't anything anyone could do to change the limb or repair the limb so it had to be amputated. God calls this pruning.
Yes, God is battling for these children as well. As important as the sparrow is to God I know He has gone before us and is along side us and together we will win battles for children and eventually the children's rights for safety, permanence and well-being will be regarded as a higher priority than any parental right. Putting the children first at all costs will be winning the war.
We serve a mighty God!
Colson JAMS
What you know can be comfortable even if it is neglect, abuse or abandonment. This is why we believe change is so hard even for those of us who are not neglectful, abusive and would never consider abandoning our children. We can all strive to be better and how hard is it for you to change? Change is hard even if it is good, especially for a child torn from their home and the only "normal" they knew.
The best we could explain to our children is the analogy of war. There are several, sometimes 100's of battles fought in a war each side loses some of those battles but ultimately only one side can win. Yes, we we've lost a battle or two but we are still in the war. We have learned about the war we are in, we are learning and developing skills to better defend the innocent and with each battle we will become more skilled and hopefully the children will begin winning more and more battles. After all if we do not fight for the children who will, they certainly cannot fight on their own.
We, unlike the state, are of the mind set that sometimes these children need a new home and that change even though it would be hard will be ultimately in the best interest of the child. Just like in battle and a soldier has wounded a limb, the limb might not be repairable and it needs to be amputated. The soldier might fight and cling to the limb, reach for it even after it is gone but ultimately the limb needed to be removed in order to save the soldiers life. There wasn't anything anyone could do to change the limb or repair the limb so it had to be amputated. God calls this pruning.
Yes, God is battling for these children as well. As important as the sparrow is to God I know He has gone before us and is along side us and together we will win battles for children and eventually the children's rights for safety, permanence and well-being will be regarded as a higher priority than any parental right. Putting the children first at all costs will be winning the war.
We serve a mighty God!
Colson JAMS
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Heart Broken and Achy
We aren't sure how to name the kids because we really shouldn't share their actual names. So for lack of anything else I suppose we can number them.
This is the best way to describe our hearts at this moment. Broken and achy! Yes child 4 and 5 went home today. We are broken because a broken system sent them home. Placing parental rights above the children's rights of safety and well-being. We do fear for these children and their safety and hope you will covet specific prayer for them.
The Lord knew how I would feel and He so generously gave me this verse this morning. "And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart." ~ Ezekiel 36:26, NLT
Thank you Lord for your Word, it is truth, it is comfort, it is strength for my soul.
This is the best way to describe our hearts at this moment. Broken and achy! Yes child 4 and 5 went home today. We are broken because a broken system sent them home. Placing parental rights above the children's rights of safety and well-being. We do fear for these children and their safety and hope you will covet specific prayer for them.
The Lord knew how I would feel and He so generously gave me this verse this morning. "And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart." ~ Ezekiel 36:26, NLT
Thank you Lord for your Word, it is truth, it is comfort, it is strength for my soul.
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