Re-writing your story

Photo by Reuben Juarez on Unsplash

I am old enough to remember typing on a typewriter.  Back then, we used whiteout and had to erase or cover up our mistakes and then retype. I can still hear the sound it would make as I would pull the paper up enough to correct the typo, and then the clicking sound as I would wind it back around to begin typing again. Technology has made this process so easy.  Not sure any of our younger people can fully appreciate how easy it is to just make corrections!

Photo by Da Kraplak on Unsplash

Wouldn't it be nice if we could do life "redo's" just as easily?  Wow...make a horrible choice, hit back arrow, and BAM!  It's gone.  That would be amazing!  But, as we all know, it is not that easy.  My pastor says often that "everybody has a story."  And, we do. We all have a story to tell and our lives are all pages in a book featuring each of us as the main character.  Parts of our "books" are boring, some pages suspenseful, throw in some drama, a love story....we all have the makings of a wonderful story! 

While we all have our own story, much of it has yet to be written.  There is still a lot to be determined about how the rest of the story will go. Many of the children we serve have had an opportunity to rewrite their stories.  I absolutely love hearing my children, who have come from hard places, talk about the possibilities for their future.  There was a time when they didn't see much for their futures.  Bringing them out of an abusive, neglectful home has given them hope!  They now get to see a future that is bright, full of happiness, and possibilities!!

Your story is not fully written either.  Many reading this have probably thought about fostering or adoption at one time or another.  You have dreamed of making a difference in the life of a child. Good news: It's not too late! Fulfilling that dream, re-writing how your story goes as well as how a child's story turns out can still happen.  In fact, it has to happen.

So much depends on our response to this.  It is easy to never look back on the "what could have been" scenarios.  You don't respond, you really don't know what you miss.  But, I see it now from both sides.  I see all of the HUGE blessings I would have missed out on if my husband and I had ignored this call.  I see all of the personal growth and tremendous faith I would not have obtained.  I see all of the giving and unselfish living that my biological kids might not have learned.
I see
hope,
dreams, 
integrity, 
educations,
healthy relationships,
careers,
LIVING,
all happening in the lives of the kids we adopted through foster care and I just shake my head.  How could I have not been witness to this?  How could I not give thanks everyday for the Lord allowing us to be a part of something so much greater than ourselves?

Your story is yours. You can decide what goes on each page. So far your book has pages filled with raising biological kids, taking vacations, watching a new Netflix series, and eating out (oh the eating out!!). This story can absolutely continue with the plot that you have set in place.  Or,  enjoy all of that while changing someone's life.  How will you end your book?  What changes need to be made to the script?

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

Oh friends, I implore you, write a new chapter!  

Every wound healed.  Every child, a home.