Today we are strangers.
But tomorrow, I will know very intimate details of their lives.
Tomorrow I'll learn of the abuse that landed them in protective custody.
Tomorrow I will read of their medical issues, emotional problems, and their current foster home placement.
Next week I will meet them face to face.
I'll promise to fight for them, to walk along side them during this amazingly tough season of their young lives.
I will begin putting a plan in motion to help them.
To help them find their way into a safe, stable, loving permanent home.
It may be back with a reformed parent or parents, or with relatives, or adoptive parents, hopefully, prayerfully it will not be in the permanent custody of the state.
The state is not a very good parent.
Over the course of the next year I'll meet regularly with them, as well as their parents, teachers, foster parents, therapists, doctors, lawyers, relatives, case workers, and the judge for their case.
I will be their voice in a broken system.
I pray for God to work through me, that I will be His hands and feet and voice.
As I begin a new case in my volunteer work as a court appointed special advocate (CASA) through Child Advocates I'm thankful for the opportunity to be used.
I'm grateful my own family allows me a few hours away here and there so that I may serve children who do not have the safe, loving home that my 3 kids do. I'm hopeful that because I care about the needy and the helpless and the lost, someday my children will care about them too.
I'm confident that although I am an ordinary person, just because I care, I'll be able to make a difference in the lives of these 2 children that today are strangers. I've seen it happen before. Their case is my 7th case, the 13th and 14th children I will take on and fight for as if they were my own.
I do not know them today and will never be able to share them publicly, but after tomorrow, their names and faces I will never forget.
This post is part of the Moms' 30-Minute Blog Challenge.
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May your obvious love and faith shine through your work. You will touch so many hearts and help so many, I know. What a blessing to use your time and talent this way...
ReplyDeleteYou may be the only voice they have. I have loved each of our advocates. They really do make a difference in the life of a child. Thank you for doing this. God bless you!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful ministry to be involved in...May the Lord richly bless your efforts. How I admire you for doing this...HUGS, Debbie
ReplyDeleteWhat a blessing you will be for those kids! Praying for wisdom for you!
ReplyDeleteWhat a blessing you will be to these children! I also hope you are able to be a light to their parents as well! I think a lot of times parents who find their children have been taken from them really do want to be "mom's like us" but don't know how. Maybe they didn't have parents that were the right example---many times they don't know the Lord and are therefore don't realize they can call on Him for help. I know you will change lives by your presence in the lives of these broken families!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful day!
Sarah
That second to last sentence was a little botched but I'm sure you know what I mean! Ha!
ReplyDeleteThey are lucky to have you fight for them.
ReplyDeleteHooray for you. You are right--the state is NOT a good parent. My sister did CASA work for a while, and I know she found it very fulfilling. Best of luck to you and all the children you help.
ReplyDeleteMay you and those that cross your path be blessed by your new ministry. Thanks.
ReplyDeletenice to meet you...
ReplyDeleteThis made me tear up! I'm so grateful for people like you that were the voice for our 3 children in Foster care that became our forever children! We depended on you to be THEIR voice and to help protect them. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI have been a CASA/Guardian Ad Litem for 4 years now:) It is an awesome responsibility that comes with both rewards and heartbreak. Best wishes!
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing thing you do. Being a CASA volunteer can't be easy. Your love and support will effect their lives. May God bless you in your work.
ReplyDelete