One heart and mind...

I have learned a great many lessons through our short time as foster parents.  One of the biggest lessons, and one I hope that sticks with me for a long time, is to ask for help.  Furthermore, when help is offered... accept it willingly.

I never really considered myself particularly independent or stubborn... I'm pretty much cool with chivalry and submission.  I firmly believe in delegation.  If the trash can is full, I always think someone else should take it out... I don't have to do everything myself.  Or so I thought...

I must confess that suddenly going from two kids to four kids overwhelmed me.  I feel kind of wimpy saying that because I know lots of big families.  I even know a foster family with eight kids!  I'm not sure why these two kids at this particular time in my life sent me over the edge... but they did.   I could not get everything done, and I didn't understand why I was not adequate enough to do what God was calling me to do. I should have been able to single-handedly manage the three ring circus at my house. But I couldn't and I was drowning.

For starters these little kiddos have sleep issues.  And I like my sleep.  I need my sleep.  I must have my sleep.  Needless to say, an extremely tired me does not function well, and does not see things clearly.  All I could see was how much there was to do: buy clothes, fix meals, cram six people in a car that seats five, entertain everyone while Tony was at baseball or church or work, make the crying stop, keep up with homework, meet my church responsibilities, be a kind and caring wife, on and on and on...  Although I've been a believer for nearly all my life, I was completely unable to see how God could possibly meet all these needs.  After all, I had a very long list. 

One Sunday morning, I had a blubbering breakdown at church.  A dear friend asked a very simple question, "Well, what do you need?" I rattled off my list of impossible issues, and she listened.  Then she did the most amazing thing... She offered to help.  By the end of the day she had found us an any-time-we-need-her baby sitter, a ginormous vehicle to borrow, and brought a casserole.  Tony and I learned a very valuable lesson that day...

We are not in this calling alone.  We may be the ones who have these children in our home, but we are not the only ones caring for them.  Acts 4:32 says, "All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had."  We have seen that verse come alive through our church family.  We have been blessed with clothes, cribs, car seats, free babysitting, support, food and endless prayers. 

God re-taught me a big lesson these last few weeks.  He equips those he calls.  And often times that equipping comes through other believers.  I'm so grateful for godly friends to have accepted the call to help us fulfill our calling!  I'm also grateful that God is teaching me to accept that help.

A big huge THANK YOU to everyone who has given of themselves so unselfishly to help us out... May God bless your socks off!