Whether you are a long-time follower or have only been around here for a little while, you may not know that foster care and adoption are a part of our story as parents. Our journey of foster care and adoption did more than grow our family. It also grew our faith in God, Who asked us to release our children—both biological and not—to His care.
In honor of National Foster Care Awareness Month during the month of May, we wanted to highlight some resources around foster care and adoption.
The reality is that this journey is hard, complex, and complicated to talk about. But we want to acknowledge that God cares deeply about it, and we hold so much gratitude for the way our family grew in these ways.
Whether you are currently a foster or adoptive parent, are considering becoming one, or just want to learn more about the topic, we highly recommend checking out these resources below:
Episode 58: Understanding the Complexities of Adoption—with Brittany Salmon
When we read Brittany Salmon’s book, It Takes More Than Love, we felt seen and understood. In this episode, Brittany shares about whether you should pursue adoption if your spouse isn’t 100% onboard, the different types of adoption that are possible, and more! Whether you have considered adoption yourself, are an adoptive parent, or just want to learn how to better support those in the adoptive or foster care communities, this episode is for you.
Episode 53: Honest Truths to Help You Respond to the Call to Foster Parenting—with Jamie Finn
Foster parents face many questions and struggles along this journey of welcoming children into their homes. In this episode, Jamie Finn helps us understand how God’s Word can speak powerfully into your life as a foster or adoptive parent, how to cope with saying “goodbye” to children you love, and how trauma can have an impact on your family and your foster child.
Episode 19: How to Help Your Child Cope with Trauma—with Mike and Kristin Berry
Perhaps your own child has suffered separation from birth parents or the loss of a loved one. A traumatic accident or lengthy hospital stay, or a painful crisis your family never saw coming. In the overwhelm of sad or anxious emotions, perhaps your child is acting out in negative or destructive ways. You want to meet your child in their struggle but you simply don’t know where to begin. You’re discouraged, confused, and desperate for help. In this episode, Mike and Kristin Berry bring a powerful word of hope for parents whose children have suffered trauma.
The Connected Child: Bring Hope and Healing to Your Adoptive Family
The adoption of a child is always a joyous moment in the life of a family. Some adoptions, though, present unique challenges. Welcoming these children into your family—and addressing their special needs—requires care, consideration, and compassion. This book will help you build bonds of affection and trust with your adopted child, effectively deal with any learning or behavioral disorders, and discipline your child with love without making him or her feel threatened.
Foster the Family: Encouragement, Hope, and Practical Help for the Christian Foster Parent
There are great rewards that come along with being a foster parent, yet there are also great challenges that can leave you feeling depleted, alone, and discouraged. The many burdens of a foster parent’s day—struggling children, difficult biological parents, and a broken system—are only compounded by the many burdens of a foster parent’s heart—confusion, anxiety, heartache, anger, and fear.
With the compassion and insight of a fellow foster parent, Jamie C. Finn helps you see your struggles through the lens of the gospel, bringing biblical truths to bear on your unique everyday realities. In these short, easy-to-read chapters, you’ll find honest, personal stories and practical lessons that provide encouragement and direction from God’s Word as you walk the journey of foster parenting.
Securely Attached: How Understanding Childhood Trauma Will Transform Your Parenting
Just as you prepared your home to welcome a new child, it is important to prepare your heart and mind—especially if the child has suffered from a background of trauma. Perhaps your invitation for love is met with hostility, and you find that this new member of your family rejects connection. If so, then it’s critical to acknowledge the effects of trauma on a child’s ability to attach.
Mike and Kristin Berry realized this when they became adoptive and foster parents. In their twenty-year marriage, they have had the joy of adopting eight children and fostering twenty-three. They now offer guidance from their own journey to others parenting a child who has experienced past trauma.
It Takes More Than Love
Being an adoptive parent is hard enough. But when your family is multiracial, things get even trickier. Parenting transracially doesn’t come naturally, nor does it just happen with time. Love is essential—yet by itself, love isn’t enough. Cross-cultural parenting also takes intentionality, listening, learning, growing, repenting, changing…then starting all over and doing it again. It’s hard work! And yet, when an adoptive family honors the ethnic heritages of their children, the whole family—as well as the watching world—gets to see the beauty of a gloriously creative God.
Letting Go: Our Adoption Story
We sat white-knuckled in family court that Good Friday, listening to the judge making plans for our foster son’s future. “Max” had been with us for over two years. He was knitted as closely into our hearts as if he’d been born to us. The decision that day? Caseworkers were ordered to explore placement with unknown relatives several states away. We died on the inside as we faced the possibility of never seeing Max again.
Growing Through Prayer: A Mom and Dad’s True Calling
My children are in your hands. You created them and know every detail of their hearts and minds. You, too, long for my kids “to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). Your love will never fail them, and Your power is strong enough to hold them forever. May I trust You completely to call my children out of darkness and into Your wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9).
Being a foster or adoptive parent is no easy task! The greatest thing we have learned through it all is to pray like never before, entrusting our family life and the life of each of the children in our care to God. As National Foster Care Awareness Month comes to a close, we want to invite you to just consider if this may be something that God is calling your family to. Listen to His voice and lean into His guiding.
Either way, will you join us in praying and encouraging those families around us who are fostering or have adopted children?
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