Caring for the Vulnerable Changes You

Caring for the vulnerable changes you. Once you’ve seen real humans who are suffering in poverty, need unconditional love, regular baths, food, and rest - you can't un-see it. You can’t ignore it.

And the Lord is actively calling us to see needs and meet them. To suffer to help the vulnerable. Sanctifying all of us - parents and kids alike - through this discipleship, parenting and fostering/adopting work.

And once you’ve cared for the vulnerable for any real amount of time, you begin to see yourself in the brokenness of their situation. You see that you are not so different than the broken parents who find themselves in this situation. All a result of sin - which plagues us all. That while - in your flesh - you desire to condemn the mom who has made poor decisions (drugs, abuse, sexual promiscuity, neglect, etc) you can’t help but see your own poor decisions, your own quickness to anger, your own frustration or bad attitude. And the realization hits you - we all sin. We all fall short of the glory of God.

It's all so humbling.

And as believers, we are all actively called to this work. James 1:27 makes it clear that we are all called to look after the orphan and the widow. And that's also why, when we are obedient, this work is incredibly fulfilling. Even though it’s hard and scary and requires sacrifice, it’s also incredibly exciting and satisfying because we are meant to be doing this work.

The believer will find great fulfillment in this work. It knits us to Christ more. We are being made more like Him in our suffering and sacrifice. Fostering makes me more dependent on Him. Daily. And loosens my affections for this world, and keeps me looking heavenward.

Come join me, listen in and be encouraged!

#bigfamily #adopt #foster #vulnerable #christianfamily