Good morning, I’m Rev Veronica of Binstead, Havenstreet and Wootton.
Our theme today is: Foster Carers
We know that God calls us as Christians “to care for orphans and widows in their distress”. (James1.27) And so today, we are giving thanks to those that respond to this calling. As CS Lewis remarked:
“Children are not a distraction from more important work, they are the most important work.”
– CS Lewis
And so today we give thanks to God for those called to work with children, particularly to be foster carers:
Loving God,
We thank you that foster carers respond to God’s call to care for the orphans.
We thank you that you have blessed foster carers with the gifts and talents needed to provide safe and loving homes.
We ask that you bless them with:
wisdom in all their parenting,
patience through difficult times
strength in their vulnerability
encouragement when disappointed
a kind and compassionate heart
with plenty of space for mercy:
to receive God’s forgiveness,
to forgive themselves, and
to forgive the children in their care as they inflict wounds as a reflection of their own.
Heal their pain and give them peace.
Amen.
We pray for the foster children – that they find loving and compassionate homes and that God heals the trauma, pain, and destructive experiences that many of these children have been exposed to.
We pray for the wider families of our foster parents, that they support the parents and are instruments of God’s love, and that their hearts are open to offer compassion to the whole family.
We ask all of this through Christ our Lord, Amen.
Please join us this evening at 7pm for our daily Zoom prayer meeting:
https://zoom.us/j/96569728174?pwd=eVBXckx5RE1pU0I3Y3FnWXBwZGRidz09
How can we ever truly appreciate what foster carers do? Opening their homes and their hearts to children whom they know will not stay with them. It’s a specialist calling reserved for special people. God bless you all.
Thank you so much, Veronica, for the wisdom, insight and compassion you show in all your prayers.