Over 500 children in Knox County are cared for by foster parents, but more await loving homes. One mom opened her heart and home to children in need of love and found that her own birth family received the blessing, too. With so many children worldwide in need of a home, maybe fostering will be part of God’s beautiful future for you.
By Featured Guest: Tara Dovenbarger
“I could never do that.”
As a foster mom I hear these five words in my daily conversations. Doctors, friends and even perfect strangers are curious, and somewhat perplexed, about how I am able to allow children into our family and hearts, and then let them go. They assure me that “they could never do that.”
There was a time, not long ago, that I felt the same way. I told the Lord I could never be a foster parent. Now, I am so grateful I submitted to the Lord’s prompting. Our family would have missed out on so many blessings that outweighed the pain of saying goodbye.
One of the first blessings was our opportunity to give a little boy regular meals. We witnessed his intense fear of not having food slowly disappear. We were able to teach him that eating from the garbage can was not needed, and this basic need would always be met.
What a blessing it is to give something as simple as a secure place to sleep. My two young children were thrilled that they were able to give a baby a bed to sleep in, which he did not have before. When our foster son first came to us, he would sleep in the firm grip of the fetal position. What an exciting night it was to check in on him and see him relaxed, spread out and sound asleep.
This ministry also blesses my husband. He teaches these dear children that they can come to our house, for any length of time, and never be victimized by a man. They can experience the firm, strong arms of love that only a daddy can give.
There are so many other blessings, such a being there for first pony rides and birthday parties, learning to pray at our dinner table, praying over them at night, holding and comforting them when sick and so much more.
As I look back and say, “Phew! How did we ever do that?” I know that we did not. God did. God told us to do something we could never do, and we have had the privilege of watching Him work.
I am so thankful God is allowing us to serve Him in the comfort of our own home. Our family motto is, “We have a lot, so we give a lot.”
I can’t imagine life without this gift to serve God. Even as I prepare my current son’s things for his move away, I am thankful that God has called us to the mission field of foster parenting.
Suggested Reading: For more about how to train up our children to have an impact on the Kingdom of God, read Julia Ferwerda’s book One Million Arrows. As you read you will be inspired by the vast opportunity awaiting believers in the mission fields of foster parenting, adoption, and support of the vulnerable. Prepare to be challenged.
Tara Dovenbarger lives in East Tennesse with her husband and four children. She enjoys writing and speaking about how the Lord has proven Himself mighty and faithful through everything from the death of a child, a troubled marriage, adoption, and raising kids with special needs. When she is not sitting at the kitchen table homeschooling her children, she is outside caring fo her mini-farm, stitching up something fun, or has her nose buried in a good book.
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