A Prayer for Parents

5/3/09

In knowing that this is going to be a lengthy process we have decided that for each month of the journey we will have a specific prayer request for the season that we are in. For the month of May we ask that you would pray for the birth parents of our children.

I would be the first to admit that in this process I had not spent a whole lot of time thinking about them. And then I began my new job. Although the circumstances are different I am gaining a better understanding of the sacrifice that our children's birth parents will make. I had been at my job for 2 weeks and I was sitting in the court waiting room across from a couple and a woman. The woman was looking through a scrapbook that the couple had created. As I sat there I overheard that they were there that day so the mother could sign custody of her children to the foster parents. They were all tearful but the mother stated, "I am doing this as an act of love for my children. I want was is truly best for them and I know that is not something that I can provide." At this point I was overcome with emotion. The thought had never crossed my mind.

There are parents there that will be giving us custody of their children because they know that for whatever reason they won't be able to provide the best care. We obviously don' know the circumstances that will bring our children to us but we have a new sense of responsibility to their birth parents. We are being picked to love, teach, provide, laugh, cry, and hug. To read stories, take walks, see all their "firsts", make friends, help with heart ache, encourage, support and dream. We ask that you join with us this month as we pray for them, the decision they will have to make, peace with their choice, moments of joy with the kids and safe environments while we wait. We will never fully understand the depth of their sacrifice but we are eternally grateful for the precious gift they will give us. Thank you for your prayers during this journey.