One thing many people may not realize about foster care, is how much time foster parents spend in court rooms. We have had 3 court appointments in the last 3 months and have 4 more in the next 6 weeks. This may be more than what the typical foster family experiences but every foster family does spend significant time in court. We didn't expect our fostering to include learning the "ins and outs" of the U.S. legal system.... juvenile, criminal, immigration, etc.
Such a dark place... the court system that is. The environment is so heavy, my heart weeps over the sin, the utter depravity of mankind.
I sat in one of those court rooms last week. It's a strange feeling to see half a dozen people clamoring together "fighting" for the rights and futures of the children in your care. There was a small, selfish, prideful part of me that wanted to jump up from my lonely seat in the back of the courtroom and wave my arms around and say, "Hello, I'm the one taking care of them 24 hrs. a day, shouldn't my opinion matter?"
Instead, the moment seemed surreal. Legal jargon thrown around and over my head. I wondered. Wondered at it all. Our broken world, the insanely smart attorneys, birth parents who have lost their way and saddest of all, the children. The thousands and thousands of children, broken families.... what is right? Are the decisions being made for them, right? I sat there and felt at a loss. How does anyone make these life altering decisions?
As quickly as the confusion came, His peace and grace filled my soul. There was irony in staring at the judge and attorneys in the room. The Holy Spirit reminded my heart that God alone is JUDGE. He rules justly, rightly and sovereignly. He is so worthy to be trusted. I don't have to figure it all out because He already has.
And in the middle of that dark place, His Light flooded the room.
"For the kingdom is the LORD's and He rules over the nations." Psalm 22:28
"Those who contend with the LORD will be shattered; Against them He will thunder in the heavens, The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; And He will give strength to His king, And will exalt the horn of His anointed." 1 Samuel 2:10
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