Last winter I wrote a post around Christmas time. I had it all ready to go and I didn't post it. I was super nervous it was going to come off preachy and like "I am holier than thou". This is something I am very nervous about and I hope this is not how I portray myself as I write about our journey in foster care. Below is the post I didn't post last year, with some tweaks here and there!
Usually when people think of Christmas they think of; presents, Santa, and maybe gathering with family. If you are a Christian, the Christmas season holds a bigger meaning. We celebrate Jesus birth and the prophesies of His coming fulfilled. Lately, however there has been a new meaning to the Christmas story for me. Since becoming a foster parent I look at life through a new lens and I see Christmas in a new way.
Have you thought about Joseph and how he adopted Jesus? I never really did until this last year. Christmas sermons on Joseph I have heard, have always reflected on his relationship with Mary and his message from the angel. Sermons have always spoken to how Joseph was honourable to not disgrace Mary and how Joseph rose to the call after the angel spoke to him in a dream; telling him Mary had not been unfaithful and this baby was going to save the people of their sins.
This Christmas has me reflecting more than ever on the Christmas story and adoption/ foster care. Now that I am looking through the lens as a Foster Parent it can't be anymore obvious to me how adoption/foster care is such a significant part of the Christmas story and it is so rarely talked about.
Jesus was adopted by Joseph! Joseph took Jesus into his home, cared for him and loved him as his own child. Joseph would have looked at Jesus and not seen his own face, they would have had different mannerisms, maybe totally different interests as he grew.
The thing I hear the most about why people choose not to foster is the idea it will be too hard to say goodbye to the child. This is a major fear of mine too! The fear has not gone away despite having said goodbye once. In truth, it has probably increased and now added with it is a sense of dread because now that we have done it I know exactly what to expect. No one hopes to have their heart broken. No one actively signs up for something knowing it could end in sadness. But you know who did? Joseph. Joseph signed up for it. He was told by the angel this baby being born to Mary was going to save the world of sin. Joseph and Mary knew all the prophesies about the Christ that was to come. The Old Testament is full of prophesy of how Jesus' life on earth would end. Check out some of these verses for reference; Isaiah 53:3, Isaiah 53:7, Psalm 22:17-18, Numbers 9:12. Despite it all, Joseph said yes to the call. He knew it would end in heartbreak for him. I'm sure he dreaded the idea of seeing the son he loved and cared for flogged and ridiculed but he signed up for it anyway knowing his heart would be broken. He also knew the greater purpose of Jesus life. He knew the great things Jesus was going to do for the world. We don't know the greater purpose of the children who come to us, but I do know God has a plan for these children and their families. I also believe part of the plan for these children included my family.
Here's where I get nervous about sounding 'holier than thou'. My family is not special. We are not better than anyone else because we are fostering. I am not trying to compare myself to Joseph! ha! All I am trying to do is highlight foster care in ways you may not have thought about it before.
2022 is around the corner and I know we are all hoping this will be a very different year than 2020 or 2021. Whether or not this year is any different from the years we just had- we have a lot of control in how we want the coming year to look. What do you plan to do to help others? How are you going to serve your community? Who are you going to share the love of God to so when there are more dark and hard times they know about the light and love of God.
Thank you for reading along in my blogging adventures. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for checking in on us and caring for our family. I have worried in the past that people would get tired of supporting us and loving us after we had been in world of foster care for awhile, but that has not been the case yet and for that we are truly thankful.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Love Jeff, Justine, Jace, Jemma and the baby!
Justine,
Early morning thoughts posted through you, knowing this strength…. You’ve created and nurtured within yourself. It’s as though drinking a cold beverage on a very hot day. You give comfort from this world. A forever
understanding of your deepest love of God. Through your family you’ve shared Yourselves. The pride I feel inside overwhelms me. Talking with Jeff the other evening with Jace and Jemma …. Hearing laughter and the abundance of love in your home. Caring for the baby. Whenever I think of you all. I realize that your family is growing. Knowing each of these children that come in your lives. will not only be part of your lives forever now, but the time they’ve …