Craig Clouston

Fostering the LORD’s Delight

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:4

Over the years, Renee and Scot have opened their home to over twenty foster children, most of them babies born to crack-addicted mothers.

A few years ago, God brought them Angelina. “Long before we received the call,” Renee shared, “God gave me a vision of a fair-haired daughter of my own…not just another foster child, but a daughter who would never leave.”

However, born with flaming red hair, Angelina didn’t fit the vision God had given Renee. But there was something special about Angelina—and though all her children were precious to her, Angelina touched a place deep in Renee’s heart none of the others had.

Deciding hair color didn’t matter, the Welschs began the process of adopting Angelina. In the twenty-two months it took for the adoption to become final, Angelina’s hair color changed from red to blond. Here was their fair-haired daughter after all!

At that time, the Welschs felt led to take a sabbatical from the fostering program, and were taken off the ‘Call List’ by their caseworker.

Inexplicably, during that time, God gave Renee a desire to adopt Angelina’s biological sister; strange, since she didn’t know where Angelina’s birth-mother was…or if she was even still alive. But the God-given desire grew…and would not be assuaged.

The day their sabbatical ended, Renee received a call from their caseworker, “Angelina’s mother is pregnant. Would you consider fostering the baby?”

In July of 2009, Marissa was born. At the writing of this devotion, her adoption is complete!

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There is a desperate need for foster parenting and the adoption of parentheses children around the world. From orphans and crack babies to gang-banger wannabes, our world is teeming with what society calls the ‘unwanted and undesirable’. Yet, in Psalm 139:16, we are told that not one of them is a mistake by a God who didn’t see them coming.

Not all are called to foster or adopt. But if you are called to this ministry, don’t be afraid. God will foster, as He did in Renee and Scot, a desire to welcome your new child home!

Prayer

“Father God, I don’t know if fostering or adoption is something I’m called to. Give me discernment for Your will in my life where meeting this vital need is concerned. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”