We all belong to God
We have very dear friends who take in medically fragile foster children. This began after they had a child themselves with birth injuries and multiple handicaps, and were forced to become experts. As they have brought home other people's children with medical syndromes, brain damage, and very serious conditions, the common reactions of others (me included) are: one, admiration, and two, "I could never do what you're doing."
Her response? You become able to do it because it's what you have to do. Most things are like that.
They don't live across the street anymore, or in our ward. They live in another city a couple of hours away, and I hate the distance, but we had a chance to see them last weekend when they were in town for family business.
At the moment, they have a baby in their care. She is eight months old and has several things wrong with her, a cluster of birth defects. She is so tiny that she looks like she's about three, at most four months old. Slowly, she is improving a little, as this foster mother has tenaciously advocated for her and lined up specialists and insisted on care. We sat with them in church, as she held and stroked the cheek of this little girl. Where some might only see tragedy, she sees a person, with an eternal perspective, and offers tenderness. She understands that this body belongs to a beloved spirit child of God, whatever the nature or limitations of her mortal experience, and she is determined to do the best she can for her. She will make sure this little soul is loved. This offering is not only purifying, it is glorifying.
Watching, touched again, I was struck with the thought: We each have a way of perfecting our lives. Few of us may be filling the role of this family, but our Heavenly Father will give each of us a way to learn the depths of love and faith. It doesn't matter much what way we have, in comparison to any other person's way, but only that we follow and experience our own way, and seek to love and serve. He has a plan to teach and glorify us all.
Her response? You become able to do it because it's what you have to do. Most things are like that.
They don't live across the street anymore, or in our ward. They live in another city a couple of hours away, and I hate the distance, but we had a chance to see them last weekend when they were in town for family business.
At the moment, they have a baby in their care. She is eight months old and has several things wrong with her, a cluster of birth defects. She is so tiny that she looks like she's about three, at most four months old. Slowly, she is improving a little, as this foster mother has tenaciously advocated for her and lined up specialists and insisted on care. We sat with them in church, as she held and stroked the cheek of this little girl. Where some might only see tragedy, she sees a person, with an eternal perspective, and offers tenderness. She understands that this body belongs to a beloved spirit child of God, whatever the nature or limitations of her mortal experience, and she is determined to do the best she can for her. She will make sure this little soul is loved. This offering is not only purifying, it is glorifying.
Watching, touched again, I was struck with the thought: We each have a way of perfecting our lives. Few of us may be filling the role of this family, but our Heavenly Father will give each of us a way to learn the depths of love and faith. It doesn't matter much what way we have, in comparison to any other person's way, but only that we follow and experience our own way, and seek to love and serve. He has a plan to teach and glorify us all.
Impressed is hardly the word to express my feeling. I am handicapped, but everywhere I look, there are those worse off than I - much worse. This family is surely angels of God.
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