Thankful for Birth Moms

This was a nice mothers day. Everyone took time to honor their mother (or mother figure) in their life. All of my foster children went out of their way to make me feel especially honored today to be a part of their lives. This morning during church the pastor asked for all the mothers to raise their hands as they were passing out a small gift for everyone. Since I was sort of close to the back I didnt raise my hand right away...thinking I would as the ushers got closer to me. My little 9 year old foster son J jumped to his feet and began pointing at me and telling everyone around him that I was his mother. He was excited and he wanted to make sure they all knew. That is especially sweet in light of the fact that J and I are not of the same ethnic background so for him to feel that way about me is very much an honor. Because my 2 older children are ages 9 and 10 their memories are very clear of why they are in foster care and the circumstances surrounding what caused them to be where they are today. The seem very content now. Sometimes they both can say some very bitter things about their birth mother. Sometimes I allow them to vent and I always remind them that the best thing they can do is to pray for her....and to work on becoming the best person they can be so they dont get caught up in the cycle that sends so many young people down the same road that she has chosen. For this reason I tend to be very strict on the boys in certain areas. They cant afford to slide by. Success is mandatory when it comes to their education because I believe all children are capable of learning. But anyway.....I couldnt help but think of their mothers today. Sometimes I would get a little angry with their mothers too....especially when they would raise a false hope in the children. I hate to see them disappointed. Today I thought of all the little cards, gifts and flowers I received in honor of Mothers days. All of them from children I did not give birth to. I wondered if this was a hard day for their mothers. As I sat in church thinking about it this morning I kept remembering all the times I have preached to N and J about praying for their mother and it occured to me how many times have I prayed for her. I felt a little hypocritical. I made myself a promise that I would pray for the mothers of the children who live in my home more often...I owe them that much. There are a lot of distressed young ladies who find themselves in crisis pregnancies who dont choose life they way N and J's mother did....there are a lot of mothers who find themselves in crisis situations and choose to harm their children to the point of causing death. I am thankful that the children who make it to my door if nothing else had a mother somewhere who gave them life....so many mothers dont choose that. Although the life so many of these children had prior to arriving at my door was unstable...at least it was life....from the time it became unstable it went into Gods hands who sent someone their way that saw to it these children made it to where they were today. I am thankful for mothers who choose life. I am thankful for Social workers who are attentive to childrens needs. I am thankful for the children placed in my home. I am thankful for the opportunity to be a mother. It was a process to get me to this point...and something I could not have done on my own!
And to those 2 young servicemen in San Diego who took the time out of their busy schedules to remember me on mothers day...you have no idea how much that meant to me. What a surprise to hear from you after all this time and to know that you are successful and happy made my day more than words can say. Having the chance to watch you boys grow up was a blessing in my life that I am so thankful for. Continue to put Jesus First in your life....and everything else will fall into place. I love you.
And to Jessica who took the time out on mothers day to call and wish me a happy day....I love you and I am so proud of you and your baby. Jake will always have a grandma at my house whenever he needs one. I am proud of you Jessica for the time you take with little Jake and for being such a wonderful mother to him. It seems like just yesterday I was putting you on the bus for the first day of school...my how time flys!!!
Happy Mothers Day to Everyone