“Hello God” by Cheri Keaggy from “Grafted” featuring Melanie Hymel with Diesha and Brittany
Pick me! Pick me! For some reason as I went about my day today-this phrase resonated in my heart. And not in a good way. I have become increasingly burdened for the kids in our Heart Gallery who are languishing in foster care waiting for someone to rescue them. I literally hurt for them as I try to put myself in their place; alone, broken, hurting, hopeless and longing for the permanence of a forever family. Just the thought of the fluidity of their lives takes my breath away.
A couple of weeks ago several of our waiting teens attended our Heart Gallery Gala to watch two of our girls dance. It was a blessing to have them there, and the dance was inspiring, but as I left that night, I began to ponder what it must be like to sit at an adoption celebration where your picture (beautiful though it may be) hangs in the Heart Gallery display and where everyone is talking about all of the adoptions that have taken place during the year. I have to believe they are asking “why not me?” “What’s wrong with me?” As a teen, I could not have handled that. I was insecure, self-effacing, and uncertain, but I never wavered in the knowledge of how completely and deeply I was loved by my family. I cannot imagine the emptiness and discouragement that comes after years of disappointments and trauma.
One of the songs from Project Zero’s new “Grafted” album was written by Jason Truby and Tiffany Thornton and is called “Bring Love to Me’. There’s a verse in it that gets me every time I hear it “Seventeen, and wonderin’ who would want the responsibility of a near grown woman. But inside, I’m still a little girl, just longing for love, no matter how grown up”. I see the faces of our older teen girls in my mind every time I hear it.
And yet, in my heart, I have hope. I believe, like I have said before, that God sets, (deliberately and with great purpose), sets the lonely in families; that he is near to the brokenhearted, that He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all I can ask or even imagine. I believe the quote from an unknown author, “there are no unwanted children, just un-found families” and I grow more and more passionate every day about finding them.
I pray that the teens in our Heart Gallery and in our state (and country) who are waiting for a nurturing, unconditional-loving, life-changing forever family will find one soon. I pray that people who have never even considered adoption would be forced to look it straight in the eye and be moved to step out in faith. And most of all I pray that these kids who feel second best will hear their name called as a first choice and will begin the process of healing and becoming all they were created to be.
What a beautiful post! I purchased the Project Zero song you are talking about just yesterday and had it playing all day long along with my worship music! My friend and I plan to play it at church this next Sunday in our Sunday School class in order to raise awareness for our Tree of Blessings and foster care in general. May God use that song to do a mighty work in Arkansas and Alabama and all over the USA. My heart breaks for all who have ever felt unloved or abandoned. Our God cares for His children and may we be the hands and feet He uses to bring hope to his precious hurting hearts.
You talk about all the waiting children but never the waiting family’s , it is just as hard feeling like you are the unwanted parents. We have inquired on children even a sibling group of two teen girls but yet nothing! This is a hard road for both sides and like the children I feel like just giving up and it makes me sad to know that they are so many children and family’s waiting but nothing being done.
My heart goes out to you Mary.
We too had to wait and often used the following phrases: God’s Grace be with us and we understand the timing is in His time, not ours. It took over 6 months for social workers to connect our profile and make a connection to our children. Our monthly visits, looking at profiles and sending inquiries with no response was common and emotional draining. Finally that all changed and after placement, it took 14 months to finalize our adoption (sib group boy 11 & girl 6). Our children have asked us, what took you so long to find us? We explain that God needed to prepare our home and our hearts for you but HE had a plan all along.
I will share one bit of advise if I could go back and re-do something. I would have engaged in adoption support groups when we were waiting. Our children are heavily impacted from multiple layers of abuse. My husband and I committed ourselves to becoming educated and helping our children heal in a loving home. We have found incredible support to help us with our journey. Last if you have not read The Connected Child by Dr. Karyn Purvis it is one of our most valuable resources to gain knowledge of how our kids are impacted.
Blessings!
Thank you stacey for your comment. I know that you are right about it being Gods time, and as always when what ever happens I know that God will show me his Devine hand at work. I am trying to stay busy and put my mind on other things and think well maybe this is not Gods plan and if that’s the case then I have to accept that and know there is a reason. I can only trust God.
Precious thoughts! Yes, we all want to be chosen and loved well. Thanks for all you do, Christie. What is the contact info for the older teens support/ mentoring group?
quick query: what number of visits do you get to your website please?