DADDY

You can hear the screech arcoss the house....."DADDY"....as my 2 1/2 year flings open the front door and runs out to greet her Daddy.  She throws herself into his arms.  He picks her up and swings her around, making her giggle with glee.  Her smile could light a city block.  In his arms everything is right.  She knows she is loved and cared for.  She knows she is safe.  Daddy's arms are her refuge.

Her "brother" watches quietly from the sideline.  "Hey bud." Tony says.  He gets a quiet, "Hey" back.  Our guy doesn't find refuge or safety in those arms.  See he doesn't accept Tony as Daddy.  And he never will.  While he feels safe here he still does not consider this his home.

I'm not sure he has felt safety and love and joy that comes from flinging himself into any Daddy's arms.  But he can.  God is waiting, arms wide open, to accept him.  He wants more than anything to hear that squeal of "Daddy" and our guy to fully commit himself to him.

That is why we do what we do.  That is why we are foster parents.  It's not so we can feel that love or that admiration (although it would be really nice and very welcome if it did come).  It is in hopes that we will see our kids fling their arms open to the heavenly father who will never hurt or abandon them. 

 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!"  The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs and fellow heirs with Christ.

Romans 8:15-17