I wonder if he feels the darkness that surrounds him. I wonder if he feels the swath of light our family strives to bring him through Christ's love. I wonder if he knows of my laments surrounding his young life.
The instant I saw my boy standing in this place at this time, I loved the image. But only now can I unpack why.
This image embodies what I believe foster care looks like in Christian families. Foster families help push back the curtains of darkness, the shadowed pasts to make way for the Living Hope, the Resurrected Christ.
For a new life, for Light.
We prayerfully allow children to experience the sacrificial life of Christ daily as we protect them (at least for this season of life) from those that threaten their well-being. We stand with them at the window of time, helping them find grace in their times of need. We hold hope when maybe they have none. We stand bearing their burdens, giving them space to process the wickedness that may have experienced in the darkness.
I wonder, does he feel the injustice done to him? Does he sense my lament with him, and on his behalf? That this is his life with all of its complicated parts. I weep over the hard, the trauma, the lack of a traditional childhood, the conversations no parent should need to have with their child. Does he know how vehemently I advocate for him striving to push back the darkness even further?
For now, we live in this sliver of light, longing for the future when God will open wide what blocks His Light and Glory, so we will all be more fully awash in Him and Him alone. I wait in expectation that God will draw this sweet boy to Himself with anticipation for his complete healing in heaven.
This is beautiful. And so well said!