The Others

 I've been thinking about foster care and how the addition of a foster child has a pretty significant ripple effect. There are so many people involved in this little baby's life. And because we say yes, a lot of other people have to say yes too, whether they choose to or not.

We ask our kids to say yes to another sibling. Our parents to another grandchild. Our family to another nephew or cousin. Our friends to more chaos. Our church to another sheep to tend. Our babysitter to another charge. All over the place we are putting this baby out there for others to take in as we have, all the while not knowing how long he'll be around or how attached to get. We tell you; love him like we love him, and it's a lot to ask.

Thank you.

Because he could be gone tomorrow, or in a month, or in a year. He could rip your heart out, and that hurts. He's family now, but we all know he's not really family, not really, and you might not know what to do with that.

Thank you.

Because he may not be gone tomorrow, or in a month, or in a year. He might never rip your heart out and he might one day really, really be family, and you might not know what to do with that either.

Thank you.

Fostering and/or adopting a child is not for everyone. Sometimes it's difficult when I see that because Mark and I have made this choice we are basically telling everyone around us to do the same (to some degree) whether they feel called to or not.

We aren't the only ones fostering.

So thank you.

Thank you for putting yourselves out there with us. For saying yes to loving another Fitzpatrick who's not really a Fitzpatrick. I know it must seem weird... What do you call yourself around him? Do you bring us meals and throw me a shower because we have a newborn? Do you send flowers if he leaves? How do you open your heart and guard it at the same time? It's all so unclear, there are no norms here.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Then he said to them, "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all he is the greatest." 

Luke 9:48