Psalm 146:7 reminds us of God’s overarching mission of freedom for a lost and dying world: He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free (NIV).
This, of course, includes the critical work you are doing in foster care! During this season when we celebrate our nation’s freedom, it’s a fitting time to notice and salute the life-changing liberty you’re introducing to these kids.
Let’s take a moment to reflect on the ways your choice to foster helps make freedom ring in our country, follows after Jesus’s teachings, and makes the hearts of God’s precious little ones sing:
- Freedom from Past Trauma
Your home and your willingness to open it to them may be your foster child’s first window of light, a ray of hope shining out of past darkness, distress, unanswered questions, and heartache. You may be their very first chance to start over, to experience newness, and to see healing begin. - Freedom to Grow and Develop
Living in a more peaceful, trauma-free environment, your child can perhaps now focus on some important life skills—like noticing how they learn best, exploring how to make and keep friends, and realizing how to function successfully in a group setting. They now have the opportunity to tap into their talents, pursue their interests, and achieve their goals—with your assistance and in an atmosphere where they’re hearing “You can do it!” - Freedom to Experience Stability
Stability is a form of freedom that many children in foster care have not previously known. Crucial for a child’s healthy development are consistent care, routines, and emotional support. With stability under their belt, foster children can pour their energy into focusing on their education and developing a sense of security and belonging. - Freedom of Choice
Foster care empowers a child to have a say in their own hobbies and interests, daily routines, and future plans. This, in turn, builds their confidence and self-esteem, as they see that they’re indeed capable of making wise decisions that can push them forward. - Freedom to Hope
Perhaps one of the greatest beauties of foster care is the message of hope it plants in young hearts—that their yesterday doesn’t have to be their today or tomorrow. Hope is transformative to their perspective, and they can start to see their futures through a lens of optimism. - Freedom to Feel Accepted and Loved
By giving acceptance and unconditional love freely and regularly, foster parents can grant children the sense of belonging their hearts long for. What a joy it is to watch them shed toxic feelings of being unloved and unwanted—and in turn, learn how to love others! - Freedom to Heal
In foster care, children are provided therapeutic services, counseling, and supportive relationships that can facilitate their healing journey. These tools can help them process their trauma, memories, and emotions—and move past them toward a bright future. - Spiritual Freedom
Our country was founded on the right to religious freedom. Now, your foster kids can share in this freedom to learn about Christ, read the Scriptures, attend church, realize a new identity in Christ, and find their purpose in living.
Please don’t take these freedoms lightly. Your foster child certainly doesn’t! Thank you for being a key component in what God is doing in your precious child’s life. Your work matters … and I salute you!
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free (Galatians 5:1, NIV).
