The Road to You

Matthew 11:28 NIV “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

If rest is what God gives to us when we are weary, is rest not also what we need to offer children who are weary from life spent inside the foster care system?

We cannot fix all of a child’s problems, we cannot take away the bad things that have occurred already in their lives, we cannot stop the children from hurting, but we can offer them a place of rest.

When a child enters your home you can offer food, a place that peace abounds (even in the chaos of a busy home, there can still be over arching peace), a place that a child can enter and be given space to grieve, or just sleep. A weary body needs rest to heal. A weary soul needs space to breathe. Your home could be the place a child could find the needed rest, and space.

Maybe you say, I cannot have children in my home for one reason or another. You can still be a part of the bringing of rest, or the easing of some pain. The picture above was taken on a day spent in the lobby of the family court building. There are children, parents, grandparents, and foster parents who spend hours, in similar rooms, on court days. People there are anxious, weary, angry, afraid, hopeful, and sad. How could you be of help there?

Well, I take Tootsie Pops, chewing gum, coloring pages, little pushable cars, suction monster toys, and/or mini Pop-Its. Then, when I see an angry mom being held back by security or her lawyer, I go and offer her gum, or a Tootsie Pop. I say, “Hey I’m sure you have every reason to be angry, but lets not do anything today, that will hurt us in our tomorrow. Chewing gum, or a sweet sucker are proven to bring some calm. Would you like one or all?” I say this with a smile on my face and an outreached hand. You could do this too. I’ve never been turned down. I’ve offered grieving moms, hugs and prayers as they cry, I’ve handed over gum and snacks to children experiencing the shock of just being placed in the care of unfamiliar faces. I’ve held hands with and Aunt unsure if she should get custody of her nieces and nephews, and unsure if they will be safe in foster homes if she cannot take them. Then, I walk away and I pray. You can do that too. None of this requires special skill, just a loving heart. When you see the heartbreak, when you see the faces, I believe you too will be able to hand out sweets, hugs, and prayers.

You are capable of bringing moments of rest for weary travelers, whether in your home or in other ways. Go find the room you’re meant to be in, or prepare the room you are meant to share. God will use you, either way. You will be refreshed by bringing the refreshment to others. It’s biblical. (Proverbs 11:25)