We've all seen the studies regarding the increase of stress coinciding with the influx of screens and social media in our society. We are busier than ever with practices, extra curriculars, volunteering, work from home jobs, and keeping up with the Joneses. Modern conveniences cut down the time required for some necessary tasks, but instead of using that time to invest in relationships and eternity, we find more tasks to fill our time. Or maybe that's just me...

As a board member of Mid-Atlantic Orphan Care Coalition, I am sharing some FAQs over on their page throughout this month for National Foster Care Month. Today, I'm assembling these FAQs all in one place, with the hope of helping every day families understand that becoming foster parents doesn't require perfection or super powers.

Can you imagine a hope that does not disappoint? One that anchors your soul and secures your spirit? A hope that rises above the highest height and plummets below the deepest depth? Hope so unmovable, unshakable, and unchangeable that through great joy, heart wrenching grief, and the everyday mundane in between, it holds you steady? 

Prayer. It's talked and written about often. We know it's an essential part of our lives as followers of God. But do we truly understand the necessity of it - specifically in fostercare and adoption? Today, we'll be talking about what prayer is, why we should embrace it, and how we can utilize it.

I have been working on something for quite a few months, and I finally get to share it with you! Not only do I get to share it with you, I want to invite you to join me! 

This week, we are skipping right to verse 14. It's a verse that many may never associate with parenting. But if you have ever parented a child with attachment issues, or whose trauma prevents them from fully connecting - then you understand intimately how critical this verse is in parenting children from hard places.

Hope. Endure. Pray. Three critical practices for anyone who bears the name of Jesus. In Romans, Paul is speaking to the church in Rome. Today, we're going to take these three practices and apply them directly to our relationships with our children and the way we parent them.

A lot of us have bought the lie that parenting is about surviving. Maintaining. Just getting through the hard in hopes of a better tomorrow.

But even in the midst of trying seasons, our hearts should not give way to the lie of the enemy:
"Jesus came that THEY should have life and have it abundantly... maybe I'll have that once...
... our baby lets me sleep through the night.
... our toddler is out of this stage of being out of control.
... our teen is out of this stage of being out of control.
... we're empty nesters.

Devotion and honor. Two words we often reflect on when talking about our relationships with God and our spouse. But what about in regards to our children? In our parenting, how are we reflecting the Biblical principles of devotion and honor? This week, we're diving in to Romans 12:10.

I've often heard that parenting doesn't come with an instruction manual. I, respectfully, disagree.

The Word of God, in addition to being a love letter from our Father who spared no expense to adopt us in to His family, is also a powerful source of wisdom and instruction! Perhaps we forget this because we are more prone to scouring book shelves and online articles for how-to's and don't-do's. We crave systems and step-by-steps that solve issues and create change.