The Mother

And there she was. So normal looking. She was talking to her son like any mom. I wondered if, when and how this introduction would go. She actually doesn't know my name or anything about me, but I know her.
On paper.
But what is put down on paper really limits what we see of a person. Sure, we've all made mistakes, but don't we all want a second chance?
In some of my interactions, I find that some people, many times subconsiously, want the birth parents to fail so that they can adopt the child whom they love so much. In some ways, I do understand that. I adore this baby and I would love it if I was given the chance to adopt him. But more than that, I want his mom to get to be a mom.
Who wouldn't love this guy? He is... I could write a list about how wonderful he is and I will. But really those two words are the only requirements making someone worthy of love.
He is so happy, he loves to talk, he laughs when I sing crazy songs to him, he loves his toys, he's a charmer and has a way of making everyone fall for him. Every moment with him brings me a great peace; a completeness that I really can't explain.
Back to the meeting. She said hi. She talked to her child. And then before she walked to the room where she would have the supervised visit she said, "Thank you for taking such good care of my baby." I smiled and nodded.
There was a sense of affirmation in that. I don't foster because I want to be affirmed. I do it because I really believed that God put that passion on my heart and that compelled me.
When I met her, she wasn't just a name on paper anymore. She is. She is a woman. She is a mom. She could be me under any different set of circumstances. And If I was in those circumstances that she is, I would want someone to do that for me.
This is grace in the realest way that I've ever experienced.
And I think this is why we as Christians struggle to love. We only see people that are different than us on paper. But if we confronted them face to face, we would be forced into reflection that it is only grace that has us where we are. For some reason, God saw fit to place us where we are, but I don't think He meant for us to hide there.