I had a great opportunity on Saturday to talk to foster kids from seven agencies across the city. These kids were mostly high school and beyond, having been in the system for a while, they have a difficult time finding a family that will adopt them. Their young lives share a history that most kids never have to deal with. A very generous couple in the church along with their friends hosted the kids. For the past nine years, they have invited these kids to their home for a day of fun, games, a traditional Christmas dinner and to top it off, an incredible Christmas gift for every one of them. Though most of the kids are well adjusted and exceptionally bright normal and fun loving kids; it was also clear that some struggled with emotional and social challenges. This family asked me to speak to the kids for 15-20 minutes and so I did. As I began sharing the simple message of Christmas, it seemed as if a few wanted to be heard rather than to tune in and so, I struggled…  eventually I pushed through and led many in a prayer of salvation.

 Leaving that evening I had two different emotions – the excitement of thinking about those who tuned in and responded, but I also mulled over the frustration I felt as I thought about the ones who not only didn’t want to tune in, seemingly wanted to ruin it for others.  Today, it dawned upon me how unfair I was to expect kids – struggling with the baggage they carry, the pain inflicted by adults in their lives who should have protected them, to live up to my unfair expectations.

 I wonder if the disruptions were just results of wounds from their past or current situations, or simply fear of the futility of their future. More importantly, I wonder if we don’t sometimes treat God the same way. He is reaching out to communicate with us but the pains and wounds of our past have so grabbed our attention we don’t seem to know how to stop and listen in to what He wants to say to us today. I wonder if we are too busy arguing at our circumstances that we drown out His calling out to us to show us unconditional acceptance and peace; calling us to remind us that in Him we can have a hope and a future. I wonder. Funny that I was asked to teach them something… I left being taught by them and by God.

 My prayer… Father, I pray that somehow you will reverse the growing trend of kids left without a family, in our cities and our nation.  I pray that you will secure justice for the little ones among us and send wholeness to their lives, their families, and by that, strengthen us as a nation.