What if everyone said "NO"

My life is just too busy.  I'm too old.  It is just not the right time.  There are others more qualified than I am.  We have too many children already.

Really, all of those statements are legitimate and understandable.  With fostering and adoption,  just like with having a biological child, the timing is often hard to get "just right".  It is difficult to plan to be stress free enough, financially secure enough, and have everything just right enough to plan to have a child.  Many a family have been taken by surprise by a pregnancy and while it might not be the right time, they decide that it must be the will of God for this baby to arrive at "such a time as this."

I know.  It's tough for everything to be just right.  I think I might have experienced one of those "just right" days  back in  2002.  Oh yeah, it happened again in 2010. That  is probably stretching it a bit but you get my drift.  A day when all is well with the world comes around all too seldom. Life is full of stress.  I have experienced any number of stresses right in the middle of fostering and adoption.  It would have been easy to say "not now".  The thought  weighs on my mind;  What if everyone says "no"?

What if everyone decides it's not a good time?  What if WE had said we just can't do it right now.

Hmm....what would that look like.  Well, for me, six kids might  still be looking for a permanent home. Or worse yet, having aged out of the system with no home to return to.  Or, some other family might possibly be receiving the blessings that were intended for us.
It is certainly not a decision to be taken lightly.  But, if you think there is ever a perfect time, well, you will think yourself right out of the blessing.

If everyone says no, then thousands of children will go without.  Without the one caring adult in their life to help teach them and let them know that they are loved, their lives will be filled with even more trauma and doubt.
Doubt that they are valuable.
Doubt that they can get a college education.
Doubt that they will have an enjoyable Christmas.
Doubt that they will ever have someone who focuses on them and truly wants to be present to meet their needs.
And sadly, doubt  that God is truly there for them and sees their condition.

But the reality is....He IS there.  He DOES see.  And, he moves in our hearts to see them as well.

Child, we see you.
We see past the frustration and lack of respect.
We see past your protective lies and the hair falling over downcast eyes.
We see the hesitancy to trust and the fear of rejection. 
We see your struggle in school and at times your loneliness on the playground.
We see.
Oh, and one day soon, we will be a spectator as you take your life back.  As you triumph over tragedy.  As you climb out of the black sea of despair.  We will see you then....and we will rejoice.

Every wound healed.  Every child, a home.