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Wednesday, August 5, 2015

When Faith Hurts

Faith. Faith, it's such a simple word. Just five simple letters. Believe it or not, it's our dog's name. She is our constant reminder to keep having Faith. No matter how dark, ugly, scary or hopeless. But what about when you don't want to have Faith? When your heart has been broken so badly that all you want to do is give up and walk away?

Last year we got involved in foster care, we had two little boys placed with us.  The first one (a 1/2-year-old) C- was supposed to be with us for only a week, two at the most. They dropped him off at our house, with two bags of clothes, a small box of toys and a diaper bag. None of his clothing actually fit him, all the diapers in the diaper bag were too small. He could say maybe four words when he came to us. He was absolutely adorable if in desperate need of a haircut to get his bangs out of his eyes.

As days past we found that when he was upset he would bite himself leaving big teeth marks up and down his arms. A week turned into two, then three. We began teaching him sign language to help him talk. He loved firetrucks so much! It was so cute, he especially loved our firefighter friend. And church! He loved the church. Every Sunday he would wake up at the crack of dawn and sign church until we finally pulled into a parking lot.

 Long story short, three weeks turned into three months, and our little sweetie stole our hearts. I don't think any word hurts more than hearing your foster child call your mom his "mommy" when you know she isn't , and one day he is going back to his biological parents. Back to the people who starved him, let him wear diapers and clothes that were too small. The same jerks that called just to cuss you out because we had two foster children living with us, and couldn't take each child to see their parents every single Saturday.

About a week before he went back to his parents, we got our second little one. Baby D-, or as C- liked to call him "His baby". It was so cute to watch them interact with each other. Well six months later, we hoped he would be in our lives forever- but it fell through and he was placed with another family. It broke our hearts so much. We had prayed, felt like we were being led to follow that path- and in the end, we lost him. After six months of him being my little brother, of people saying he looked just like us, and congratulations. He was gone, just gone. We would wake up in the middle of the night thinking we heard him crying. Walk into the nursery expecting to see his face. Glance up to smile at him in the swing- except he isn't there.

There was this one night just sat in the back yard asking God why? Telling Him that was angry, hurt and didn't want to trust Him. That thought He had made the wrong choice. That He wasn't supposed to break my heart like that,- Horrible isn't it?  Because of course have the right to tell Him what He is doing wrong. Because understand better than He does. can see the whole  story and He can't right? Embarrassing, isn't it? Especially after being a Christian most of my life. You would think would know better, wouldn't you? But at that moment watching the huge thunderstorm roll in, the lightning reflecting through the blacked clouds, didn't care. That wasn't how the story was supposed to end!

As the months passed and with the prayers of dear friends our family began to heal. And slowly but surely began to allow my heart to trust Him again. Now almost a year down the road, can see the picture a little more clearly, the whys are less bold. The pain is still there, a little lighter maybe. But my faith is stronger than ever. Even though was angry and pushed Him away, He never left my side. Always holding my hand.

Faith Shines Brightest In The Darkness... The darkness serves a purpose, to show you just how much your faith can withstand. found mine lacking when I needed it most. You know the best thing about pain? It makes you stronger. may never understand exactly why the boys were put into our lives. Maybe to open our eyes to the things that break His heart. Or show us how many children in our community not just in third world countries that need help. Or maybe it was to change us. Or maybe will never completely understand.

They taught me so much, about trust, loving until it hurts, finding joy in the littlest things, that dirt can wash off but the memories will last a lifetime, that life is too short to be normal in public (go ahead stick your tongue out) Ironic, what children can teach us isn't it? This August C- will be four, D- will be 1 1/2.

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10 Comments:

At August 5, 2015 at 9:15 AM , Blogger iamlke said...

Oh my dear friend!! That loss is HUGE! I am so sorry!! Many times there is NO UNDERSTANDING!! And THAT we can have trust & faith KNOWING that HE DOES know what He's doing! We live in world that is alive and growing and always in motion! We know know that He uses the natural forces to achieve His goals! It is the same with people. He brought this little man into your life when he....the little boy.... NEED that positive input! His placing was NOT for you, but for HIM!! By your treatment of him, you set about positive chemical responses and actions in his brain, that other wise woukd not have occurred!! What you did for HIM was far greater than what he did for you!
It is okay to yell and scream and be angry with your FATHER!! Isn't that what children do when they get angry with their parents when things don't go their way or the way they thought things should go!?! I can't tell you how many times throughout my life my heart has been SHATTERED!! And I screamed, ranted and raved in anger and spent hours crying! But, I never once questioned His care or concern about me....... HE was the only one in my life that I could actually count on! I sure didn't understand about each and every time my heart was shattered!! In a world where there are people...... People without His presence, yet professing, there will always be pain!! Why? Because they are people...broken pretenders and those that are just in the darkness! (with our Father you are in the light, without our Father you are in darkness) Life is like our plant..... Ever changing, ever growing, ALIVE! It is the same with people! The ONLY thing you can count on is our FATHER! He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow!! <3 Just because we can't see it doesn't mean it isn't there! I am thankful that His understanding of me, in all my craziness is FAR GREATER than my understanding of what He has done, is found and will do in my life!! You have to rest in the facts that you provided what this little boy needed during the time you had him! THAT is what's important! Love you you all, my sweet girls! <3 (Leslie)

 
At August 5, 2015 at 11:22 PM , Anonymous Tiffany said...

Wow! Your passion for these babies really shines through this post! You had me in tears :) This is such a good perspective on faith, always trusting, regardless of circumstances. And I love that your dog's name is Faith <3 Blessings yall!

 
At August 7, 2015 at 7:34 AM , Blogger Unknown said...

Such a sweet and painful situation that must have been. Praise God that He uses us even in our pain. I can't imagine letting go like that... but am so glad that God showed you a little more of Himself through it. Thanks for posting this- you are an inspiration.

 
At January 17, 2017 at 1:47 PM , Anonymous Linda Banks said...

Gosh it is so hard to believe so much time has passed! I remember these sweet babies. I know you will never forget them. God appreciates our honesty in our anger and pain. You can trust Him with those emotions. I love you!

 
At September 13, 2017 at 7:12 PM , Blogger Sweet Magnolias Farm said...

Oh my my thoughts are all over the place from I've been there with Faith and being angry at God and questioning him and being a Christian most my life, knowing better knowing he knows better etc .. to I'll never really understand foster care .. and I'll never understand why our government seems to make it so hard to get these children into good stable homes and that turning into anger of wanting to stop the insanity. To my heart breaking over your heart breaking cause I know how bad it can hurt to the point you feel like dyeing cause you just want the pain to end... Wowee you all ! My mama taught me something I will never forget when the going gets rough rather than questioning God ask him what he wants you to learn from it .. always easier said than done .. but such a good thing to do .. the rough patches are generally where God molds us and fills us with knowledge, wisdom, patience, understanding, compassion etc .. Hope all is well with those little boys and their lives have improved. Sweet Blessings ..Sara

 
At November 8, 2017 at 10:44 PM , Blogger Rosevine Cottage Girls said...

Thank you so much! I have no words.

 
At November 8, 2017 at 10:45 PM , Blogger Rosevine Cottage Girls said...

Thank you so much! Yes, we do. **hugs**

 
At November 8, 2017 at 10:46 PM , Blogger Rosevine Cottage Girls said...

Thank you hon. I know you do. Thank you. I love you too.

 
At November 8, 2017 at 10:48 PM , Blogger Rosevine Cottage Girls said...

Thank you so much.

 
At November 8, 2017 at 10:49 PM , Blogger Rosevine Cottage Girls said...

Thank you for your kind words. I don't understand it... and it hurts so much. Your mama was very wise!

 

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