When I think of the sacred work of showing up in foster care, I think of Galatians 6:9: “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Key Takeaways
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- Foster care’s sacred work happens in ordinary moments, not just in extraordinary events.
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- Showing up consistently builds trust and challenges children’s beliefs about adults disappearing.
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- Every small act of love contributes to a child’s sense of worth and security.
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- Keep showing up, even during difficult times; each effort matters in the long run.
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- The essence of foster care lies in faithfulness and persistence through everyday routines.
When I think of the sacred work, I don’t think of the moments that make us feel heroic—maybe the attention we got with our first placement! And let’s be honest, when we first say yes to foster care, we often imagine those BIG moments. You know, like the first time a foster child says, “I love you,” or a breakthrough conversation, or a court hearing when a child is reunited with family. These moments are beautiful, no doubt, and they are worth celebrating.
Ordinary Moments are Sacred
Most of foster care doesn’t happen in the extraordinary moments. It happens in the ordinary.
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- It happens on a Monday morning when we are packing lunches.
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- It happens while we are sitting at another counseling appointment.
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- It happens as we are struggling through homework tears, bedtime routines, and piles and piles of laundry.
Truly, sometimes in the ordinary we can begin to wonder if we are making a difference at all. Paul’s words in Galatians remind us not to grow weary in well-doing. He doesn’t say, don’t grow weary in doing the spectacular! He says, “doing good.” The daily work, the ordinary work, the faithful work! This is where foster care is lived.
When I think of sacred work, I think of it being ordinary obedience offered to God for the good of someone else. Sometimes, work like this goes unnoticed by the world but is deeply seen and valued by Him. The culture we live in often celebrates dramatic rescues, while God works through quiet faithfulness. The child in your care may never remember the exact words you spoke over their lives, but they will remember that you made them breakfast every morning. You helped them brush their teeth every night. You stayed connected even on the hard days. Every ordinary act of love became another reminder that they were worthy of care.
Your Presence is Sacred
Trauma has a way of teaching children that adults disappear or that they can’t be counted on. It teaches them that love has conditions. That eventually people will leave them. Every time you show up in that sacred work, you are challenging those deep belief systems. It’s never “just another ride to therapy.” It’s letting them know that you’ve communicated they are worth helping. You might think, “It’s just another bedtime routine.” To them, it said, “Someone wanted me here tonight.” Sacred work rarely happens in one defining moment. It’s in thousands of little moments that quietly stack on top of each other until trust begins to bloom.
Modeling our presence is part of the sacred work of our assignment. Jesus modeled this best. He sat with people others didn’t see. He was interrupted and chose to engage. He welcomed little children whom others tried to send away. Jesus never rushed people; He entered their stories with care and compassion. As foster parents, we cannot fix every wound, but we can offer what Jesus modeled so beautifully.
Being faithfully present.
We must never underestimate the small moments—they are often the places where healing begins to unfold. One more bedtime story, sitting next to a child during a meltdown instead of trying to fix it. Creating rituals and routines that are special, even as simple as cutting their sandwich just the way they like it. Laughter should also not be forgotten, maybe over a board game. To us, some of these things may seem repetitive and unnoticed; however, to a child whose entire world has been chaotic and unpredictable, they become trust builders.
Keep Showing Up!
Lastly, the sacred work of foster care is to keep showing up!
There will be plenty of days you wonder if any of your efforts are working- days when behaviors are off the charts instead of the hope of getting better—days when you feel exhausted.
- Keep showing up.
- Keep loving.
- Keep praying.
- Keep practicing repair when necessary.
- Keep trying again.
Every time you stay, every time you come back, every time you choose to connect over giving up, you are telling a different story. One they may not yet believe, but one they slowly will. That, my friend, is the sacred work of foster care.
Summary
So if you’re in the thick of it tonight—another load of laundry, another meltdown, another day that felt too ordinary to matter—know this: it matters. It all matters. This is the sacred work of foster care. It was never meant to look like headlines or highlight reels. Instead, it looks like showing up, again and again, in the small and unseen moments. It looks like staying when it would be easier to give up. Keep showing up and loving. Keep believing that the ordinary faithfulness you’re offering today is sacred—and that it’s exactly the harvest God is growing, even when you can’t yet see it.
