Just in case you didn't know, the best part of ministry was EXACTLY what happened last week. A family at the church got a child placement, and while they fell madly in love with this little boy from the foster care system, they did not have little boy clothes or toys for him. When the Department of Social Services enters a home of a child they are removing, it's often heartbreaking to see how few possessions a child actually has. So when a child is placed, he or she often has a few clothes in a Kroger bag that come with him.
So I put the word out in the magical land of Facebook, and within the hour, one adoptive mom posted that she had a box of clothes (some with the tags still on them!) and another adoptive mom had a box of toys to send! So I took a couple of drives and picked up these possessions, and drove out to the new home of this precious little child, whom we'll call Max.
I arrived, presents in tow, and found Max watching Dora, the Explorer -- apparently something he's spent much of his little life doing already, and has become a comfort response. I slowly pulled out a little riding toy that made all kinds of car sounds when you pushed certain buttons. Max immediately hopped on and began scooting around the living room. Then he stopped, and ran over to hug his foster mom, squeezed her tight and ran back to the little car. Slowly, his foster mom lifted the remote to turn off the TV, worried that it would cause a tantrum since TV had become such a mainstay in his little world, but he didn't bat an eye! Round and round the couches he went, honking and beeping all the while!
As we enjoyed this little marvel of a child, the foster dad was opening the box of clothes that were donated. "Look!" he cried, "It's a whole outfit with trains on it! He loves trains!" And a few minutes later, he looked up again to say, "Look at this! It's a brand new winter coat and still has the tags on it! No one even wore this yet!"
The excitement filled the room, and I was not even the giver. I was just the deliverer and I got to experience this amazing joy of a little boy with toys JUST FOR HIM, and parents grateful for new clothes that will keep him handsome and warm over the coming months.
I didn't want to leave; I won't lie. After a while, it was time to go. I had to pick up my kids from school; they had to pick up their daughter from preschool. But I just kept staring at the joy on their faces and thinking to myself, that THIS is why we do ministry. Helping, supporting and encouraging one family, so that they, in turn, can radically change the outcome of one super-special little boy. How awesome is that?!
So I put the word out in the magical land of Facebook, and within the hour, one adoptive mom posted that she had a box of clothes (some with the tags still on them!) and another adoptive mom had a box of toys to send! So I took a couple of drives and picked up these possessions, and drove out to the new home of this precious little child, whom we'll call Max.I arrived, presents in tow, and found Max watching Dora, the Explorer -- apparently something he's spent much of his little life doing already, and has become a comfort response. I slowly pulled out a little riding toy that made all kinds of car sounds when you pushed certain buttons. Max immediately hopped on and began scooting around the living room. Then he stopped, and ran over to hug his foster mom, squeezed her tight and ran back to the little car. Slowly, his foster mom lifted the remote to turn off the TV, worried that it would cause a tantrum since TV had become such a mainstay in his little world, but he didn't bat an eye! Round and round the couches he went, honking and beeping all the while!
As we enjoyed this little marvel of a child, the foster dad was opening the box of clothes that were donated. "Look!" he cried, "It's a whole outfit with trains on it! He loves trains!" And a few minutes later, he looked up again to say, "Look at this! It's a brand new winter coat and still has the tags on it! No one even wore this yet!"
The excitement filled the room, and I was not even the giver. I was just the deliverer and I got to experience this amazing joy of a little boy with toys JUST FOR HIM, and parents grateful for new clothes that will keep him handsome and warm over the coming months.
I didn't want to leave; I won't lie. After a while, it was time to go. I had to pick up my kids from school; they had to pick up their daughter from preschool. But I just kept staring at the joy on their faces and thinking to myself, that THIS is why we do ministry. Helping, supporting and encouraging one family, so that they, in turn, can radically change the outcome of one super-special little boy. How awesome is that?!
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