My Drug Problem

I have a drug problem.

I didn’t say I am addicted to drugs, nor that I take illegal drugs.  I do have a sister that started using illegal drugs in high school.  Her drug use escalated into addiction in adulthood.  Anyone in a similar situation knows that a person’s drug addiction impacts their whole family. For years, my sister’s addiction appeared to only have an affect on her family and our parents, except for the concern and prayers My Beautiful Wife and I had for them. However, we soon realized that my sister’s drug problem was also our problem when  her boys were put in foster care.  The situation broke our hearts.  We were suddenly thrust into the world of foster care as we began advocating for our nephews and our family of four went to seven with the addition of three rowdy little boys.  Life was never the same after the boys arrived.  There were obvious challenges along the way, but a house full of kids that know they are loved, always overshadows the trials.

After about a year and a half, the boys went to live with their father. Shortly afterward, we decided to open our home to other children in foster care.  We wanted to provide a safe, loving home to children in need while their parents worked on straightening out a few things.  And, that’s what we did for the next fourteen years.  Was it hard?  Yes.  Was it rewarding?  Yes.  (I will share some of those “challenges” and “rewards” here in the future.)

We were often asked why we were doing foster care. For a long time, our response was something like, “We feel like we are called to do it during this season of our life.” Then, the right answer jumped out at me when I read Matthew 25:31-40. The New Living Translation of the verses read as follows: “Then the King will say to those on the right, ‘Come you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty ad give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked ad give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will tell them, ‘I assure you, when you did it to the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'”

Did you catch it? Let me explain how these verses speak to me concerning foster care. In these modern times, we can accomplish most of the acts of service listed by the Lord by proxy. What do I mean? We can donate money to feed the hungry, provide clean water, and give warm clothes for those in need. We can even financially support medical and prison ministries on a regular basis or a with a “one time gift.” However, in this case, you actually have to invite someone into your home to show them hospitality! Foster care is inviting strangers into your home.

As I look back at that chapter of our life, I know that had it not been for “our drug problem,” My Beautiful Wife, and I would have never thought about opening our home to foster children. If we had focused on the situation as a curse, we would have missed out on the blessings each child (yes, even the teenagers) brought us and the wonderful memories we have of each one.

People often ask if we are still in touch with our “kids.” Social media allows us to stay in touch and/or keep up with some of them. Several of them even contact My Beautiful Wife for parenting advice and just to check in. We are quite proud of them and how they have risen above their circumstances to create a better life for themselves and their families. Are their lives all perfect? No. Everyone has struggles in their lives. We just pray we were able to make a positive impact on their lives while they stayed in our home.

Lord, Thank you for using “my drug problem” to minister to your children.

Do you have a similar “curse” that you were able to turn into a blessing?  Share your thoughts in the comment area.