Sometimes you know what is coming down the road. You purposefully choose a path and make all the plans. I'm thinking about events like weddings, where there is a year of planning to pull off the perfect romantic day. Or the long-awaited vacation, one that money is saved for over several years, then booked and sweetly anticipated.
I love those types of occasions.
But sometimes life springs something "smack dab" in the middle of your path, and you have a choice,
- to walk around it and avoid it entirely
- to check it out but then decide to hop over it and continue on your way
- or to pick it up and carry it with you, even though you are well aware that your life will change
What do you do?
It isn't an easy question, and there isn't an easy answer but that doesn't mean the circumstance will not bring as much joy as something that was planned.
I feel like this is an episode of "This Is Your Life" because so many times I have experienced circumstances that I have not planned for but have made my life so amazing. This December, it happened again.
You, my reader, know that my husband and I are empty nesters. Have been for the last eleven years, and completely childless the last seven going on eight years after our youngest was married and independent.
We have become quite comfortable in our ways, and independent ourselves. But...
This fall something happened. There is this kid. One of my students. A foster child. One who has been through enough in life as a young person, and somehow has found the gumption and drive to break the cycle and strive to make a better life for himself. He placed himself in foster care when he found himself alone with no family nearby to care for him. And somehow, someway, he ended up in my classroom.
He was in a foster family that was fine, but not a great fit for him. All young children, with expectations that fit the dynamic of a young child's caregiver. But not a really perfect placement for an older child. He considered going out on his own, but still has a year and a half to finish high school and get the diploma.
And God whispered to me... do it, this kid is special. Offer him your home.
I prayed and prayed about it. A major life and home change for my husband and me if we chose to have a child again. I gathered my courage and asked Scott, actually, I told him...so there's this kid. And he knew. We prayed together some more.
When I was a child, there was a toy called the "magic eight ball". It was a black plastic ball with a window in the bottom and dark water in it. When it was shaken and the person holding it asked a question, there was a polygon (octagon like) shape inside that would rotate and eventually face the window with an answer. One popular answer was "all signs point to yes." Well if I had consulted the "magic eight ball" then this would have been my answer.
I offered, I submitted the beginning of the paperwork, and the almighty agencies have okayed the placement. As of December 28th, I am now a proud mom of a highschool junior. A wonderful foster son who makes my days so happy and has brought unexpected joy to our world.
He is teaching us so much, and when he is in my classroom, I work at teaching him too. (Okay, we learn at home too. Yep, I'm a teacher )
He is reintroducing Scott and me to the joy of having a child in our home. One who is motivated to succeed and just needs the chance to explore his options to be what God intends him to be.
It has been a comfortable transition as if he should have always been here. I am in awe of God's wisdom and power, moving mountains, and perceptions in placing him in our home.
I have only had him here for 22 days. But I can't imagine life without him here now.
So I guess this post is perhaps a new years' resolution of sorts to say, always be open to the opportunities and possibilities placed in your path. My new year's resolution is to enjoy every moment and listen to God's will as he places it before my heart. Because even when it is not in my preconceived plans....his will is always perfect.
