This real-life glimpse into the joys and challenges of foster care was written by a real foster parent.
Our 13-year-old foster daughter had been with us for seven months when her placement in our home came to an abrupt end. Her time with us had been a roller coaster. We had gone from being an adoptive option for her to learning that her biological dad had been found. At the same time, our girl had begun to spiral and began a dangerous pattern of destructive choices. It was clear that we were unable to keep her safe in our home, and the doctors at the hospital insisted on a longer-term treatment.
There was no closure, no neat, and clean goodbye. Just awkward phone chats with her at the hospital a few times a week, since the COVID-19 pandemic prevented us from visiting. But during this time, we saw our girl’s heart begin to soften as her dad began building a relationship with her through countless phone calls and video chats.
After several weeks, the decision was made that she was ready to leave the hospital and begin a trial visit with her dad. But the day before she was scheduled to go, we were given a chance to spend a whole day with her.
In our home. Her home.
We watched movies, ate pizza, worked on a scrapbook for her to take with her, and snuggled the family pets together. And finally, she headed into the kitchen with my wife to whip up a batch of chocolate chip cookies. When things went eerily silent in there, I walked in to fund them in a teary embrace. And I heard my wife whisper in her ear, “I’m so glad we got a chance to hang out with our precious girl today.”
Her goodbye was incredibly emotional as we stood in the driveway and watched our girl climb in the car and wave goodbye. Our pain was so deep we could barely stand it.
As our tears flowed, I thought to myself, this is it. This is the absolute best-case scenario in foster care. Our girl is leaving with her biological parent who loves her and can provide for her and cherish her. We had this amazing chance to keep her safe and love her unconditionally as foster parents until her dad could take over. What a perfect picture of God’s grace and redemption … and his perfect timing. And I’m so grateful we got to be a part of it.
Even when the world seems to go on pause through trying times like the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for loving, stable foster families never stops. You can help change the trajectory of a child’s life by considering becoming a foster parent.
