Making things new: one foster mom's story of hope

Posted with permission from Melanie Singleton. She and her husband are part-time foster parents, serving as respite care, relieving full-time foster families when they need some time away. Scroll to the end to find out how you can be more involved in foster care in Birmingham.

photo credit

This week we have an extra 7-year old living with us, a sweet little boy named B. His cow-licked blond hair, gray-blue eyes, and rambunctious nature remind me of my own boy. Yet, he’s not like any boy I’ve ever known. I’m not used to hanging out with children who have lost everything precious to them. 

For B, riding in the car stirs up memories of loss. He says that he lived on our side of town before with another foster family.  In fact, he’s lived with several different families in the past year. For my kids, they go to the park to be pushed high on swings by loving hands, run wild, and have picnics. But for this precious boy, the park reminds him of a place he used to go with another family— a family that has moved on.  


 


After lunch today, a trip to the grocery store prompts him to peruse the free magazines at the entrance. I go for the free car and truck magazines thinking those would be fun for boys. Instead, he goes for the apartment magazines.  




Mama says I need to help pick out a new house. Our neighborhood is bad—gunshots and drugs.  




Again, I am hit by the reality in which he lives. Shouldn't he be thinking about the things of 2^nd grade--wiggling loose teeth and learning to tie his shoes? We blast his favorite music on the way to pick up the kids from school and he sings loudly and looks through his magazines (I did convince him to get some car and truck magazines for fun). I sit in carpool line thinking about schoolwork and dinner and he shouts from the back seat every few seconds: Mrs. Melanie, Mrs. Melanie here’s the perfect place to live! Me and my mom can move here! And, yes, he got two of the apartment magazines just in case he should ever lose one. While my boys dream of becoming millionaires with a Ferrari one day, this dear boy is dreaming about going home to his mom. 

 


For me, it’s easy to move to despair. I want to cry my eyes out over the brokenness and mess of this world. I can easily wander down a road that takes me to dark places. But, the Father graciously reminds me of what a mess my own life has been. He is continually making things new. He is shining light in the dark places. He ALWAYS brings good to His people. So, in the mess of B’s story, I am trusting the Father is weaving a beautiful tapestry full of mercy and grace into this sweet boy’s life. He is not done with him. This is all part of B's story-- for HIS glory. There is always hope. He has B in the palm of His hand.  

So, when this sweet boy whispers at bedtime for me to pray for his real mom in the glow of the nightlight, I can do so with the hope of the gospel.




For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jer 29:11) 

If you or someone you know is interested in being a foster family, contact Traci Newell at Lifeline Children’s Services (traci.newell@lifelinechild.org) or visit Lifeline’s website (http://lifelinechild.org/foster-care/).