Monday, March 9

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; When you walk through fire you shall not be burned, And the flame shall not consume you. …You are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you.

Isaiah 43:1b-2, 4 (NRSV)

This email arrived last week:

“Hi Kate,

Sierra is doing well and has adjusted to her new family and school. She was adopted in December :) “

Here’s the story:

About eighteen months ago I received a general email asking for help for one of our young women in foster care. The foster mom had agreed to take 13 year old Sierra in April. She enrolled her in the same school that her own daughter attended. In those few weeks until school ended, Sierra blossomed. And what a contrast to her previous performance in her other school situation. She had barely attended. She hated it and was failing. But at St. Valentine’s School, she found her niche.

In the fall the foster mom saw how well Sierra was doing. she had a hard choice, Let Sierra go back into residential care, or find the resources to keep her and provide for her continued education in that parochial school. So she sent out a general notice asking if any help was available for the upcoming school year. Thanks to a grant from First Foundation, we were able to cover a part of that tuition. Other churches pitched in. Later on the foster mom sent us a copy of Sierra’s report card. It showed A’s in English and religion. She needed further help in math. And one of our members at FPC designated the memorial money recently donated to honor her mother for the tutoring help that Sierra needed.

As the months flew by, other congregations contributed in various ways for Sierra. She received a beautiful prom outfit. Financial support came in so that she could engage in other extra-curricular activities. What could have been a situation where a vulnerable young women in foster care got discouraged and quit, Sierra thrived.

And she is now with her own forever family.

Sierra has already learned in her short life that she is a child of God and that God is always with her, especially in the tough times. Thanks to her foster family, her religion classes, and the concrete help from many churches, she can also sense how much she is cherished and loved by God. God is working through her now to bless her own family. Her future is filled with hope.

Isn’t it amazing how together we are called to share God’s love in action? It’s like being part of a huge jig saw puzzle where each person fits in their own particular way in that grand design of God’s Kingdom on earth.

God of grace, You give us opportunities to share your Word and apply it to our daily lives. Open our eyes to your invitations to participate in your love in action. Energize us in your service through Christ. Amen

Kate Thoresen