Dear Unknown,
I don’t know if I am writing this letter to my foster daughter, myself, Abby and Eason, or someone who might read it and doesn’t know Jesus.
But I do know that this week, I felt shattered and in that place, I was reminded that God is good.
Before I tell the story, I want to say that this letter isn’t part of my foundational beliefs, but without the calling of this letter, no foundational beliefs matter.
Here is the story…
My foster daughter is no longer in our home. It’s not something I had ever even considered might happen; and, within a few hours we went from crisis to separation.
I can’t really explain those sentences for privacy reasons, but my foster daughter needed some additional help, and it was determined that the best setting for that would be in a facility that could offer more support than I could.
Over the past 48 hours, I have cried a lot. I have cried for the pain that she must be feeling. I have cried that she tried to act brave in the transition. I cried that we didn’t ride bikes together to school with her this morning. I have cried about things I learned over the past few days. I have cried about the pain that this whole situation brought on Abby and Eason. And, I have cried that this is not the end of the story I had planned.
But, no matter how much I cry, I can’t change this situation. She is gone.
And, facing that reality is important to each of us.
My foster daughter did not die. Her being gone only means we are not in the same home, and I won’t get to see her face on a daily basis. But, I know that she is being taken care of.
Another version of “gone” refers to the day we will all die and begin our lives in eternity, Heaven or hell. Death will not be met by emptiness. It will be met with an entry into the arms of Jesus or into the destruction of hell.
Just like I didn’t know the day my foster daughter would leave, we don’t know the day we will leave this earth.
So that leaves us with today. Today we have the opportunity to believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord. Today we have the opportunity to seek forgiveness for our sins.
I didn’t know my foster daughter would be gone. I thought I had a lot of years to love her.
You don’t know when you will be gone. But, Jesus has already extended His loving kindness to you. He has shown you great love that leads to repentance because he desires a relationship with you for eternity.
And, once you’re gone it’s too late. You will be somewhere – Heaven or hell. The decision you needed to make today about Christ will be made, even if you made the wrong decision.
For whoever needs to hear this (and maybe it is just me)… we don’t have the control we think we have. Our best plans aren’t that impressive. What we do have is a loving Father. He knows the number of days we have on this earth, and He knew us before we were conceived in our mother’s womb.
And here is what I know.
My foster daughter was sent to a home that loves Jesus. She was told about Jesus’ love and she responded to that. The Lord knew the days that she would be in our home. He drew her with His lovingkindness.
And He is drawing you also. It’s not a mistake that you found this letter. You have the opportunity today to respond to Jesus. And, when you choose Him as the Savior of your life, your next move will be known. You can know that your life in eternity will be with Jesus.
If you need to talk about this decision, reach out to me through chat or comments. I would love to pray with you and tell you about the radical love of Jesus that changed my life.
Holly