A Place to Call Home

Permanent - adjective - existing perpetually, everlasting.

Permanence - noun - the state or quality of lasting or remaining unchanged indefinitely.

I had a "perm" done once when I was in my teens, and it was anything BUT permanent!  I mean, the extra curls were with me for a few months, but they definitely did not "exist perpetually" and were not "everlasting."  This week's foster parenting class session was titled "Teamwork Towards Permanence," and it discussed the many challenges encountered while attempting to establish permanence for children in the Child Welfare System.  We focused especially on the birth parent's perspective and how a compassionate and non-judgemental attitude towards them was a key component to the permanency process.  Throughout the various discussions and activities, I was definitely challenged by a lot of things as I came face-to-face with many preconceived notions I had about the birth parents of children in child protective services.  It was really eye-opening (actually, heart-opening would be a more accurate description!) and gave us much to think and pray about. 

We are hopeful that someday, the Lord will provide the opportunity for us to give a forever, permanent home to a child (or sibling group) from the Child Welfare System.  Permanent - existing perpetually, everlasting.  However, the home and family we will provide to any child/children through this foster-to-adoptive process will not be truly permanent.  The truth is, nothing on Earth will ever be "permanent," regardless of how hard people strive to make it so.  Philippians 3:20 tells us that "our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ."  Not only is our home here not permanent, but what we have here on Earth is flawed, imperfect, and marred by sin and depravity.  I am so thankful for the Lord's kindness to give me tiny glimpses, "sneak peeks" at what my final destination will be like:  a kiss, a warm embrace, the giggles and laughter of my children, the rising and setting of the sun...such bliss!  I want to capture each moment and preserve it forever!  But as the tiny glimpses that they are, the kisses soon fade, the embrace may grow cold and distant, and the laughter often turns to tears.  May all of the glimpses we see make us long for the Heaven that awaits us in Christ!     

2 Corinthians 4:16-18
"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."