I didn’t realize it at the time, but growing up in rural North Carolina afforded me quite the sheltered childhood. Almost everyone around me looked like me, sounded like me and had a home-life that looked pretty much the same as mine, at least from the outside looking in. I’m beyond thankful for so much from my childhood, including: stability, love, consistency, fun, support and a lot of sweet tea. Growing up in a super-sheltered environment isn't all bad. But it’s not all good either.

I didn’t know that so many kids grow up witnessing knock-down-drag-out fights between their parents. I didn’t know that three full meals and a pantry full of snacks isn’t always the norm. I didn’t know that living in the same house for 10+ years is out of the ordinary.

I just didn’t know. I wasn't aware of the world around me.

And then I “grew up” and got married and moved half-way across the country to a crazy place called South Texas with my new husband. One day after seeing so much hurt, instability and pain in the stories of his sixth-grade students, he asked me what I thought about adoption, I didn’t really have an answer. “It’s great for people who can’t have their own kids, right?”

Well, yes. But there is so much more to it than that. He pushed me a little harder. “Why shouldn’t we adopt?” he asked. “Do you have a good reason why not?”

It turns out, I didn’t. Sure, I had reasons. But they weren’t good reasons. They were reasons of comfort and convenience, and of selfishness and sin.

We started investigating adoption, making ourselves aware, you might say. And we ran into a few roadblocks along the way. For one, who has $20,000+ just sitting around? We didn’t. So we opened our awareness a little bit more and started exploring foster care and foster-to-adopt. (FYI-we now know that there are tons of avenues out there for raising funds for domestic or international adoptions, so don't be discouraged if this is your leading from the Lord)

As we learned more, we felt God inviting us to become licensed foster parents. It’s a long story, but the happy (for now) ending involves our crazy-cute, never-stops-talking 3-year-old daughter, who we adopted just over a year ago. We’re still licensed foster parents and will likely take in another child soon, but that’s another blog for another time.

In short, we opened our eyes and our hearts we became aware. Aware of the trauma and suffering around us. Aware of our blessings and our call to use them to bless others (Gen. 12:2). Aware of our own self-centeredness and its effects on the least of these.

November is Adoption Awareness month, and, church family, I don’t want to you be unaware! There are so many routes, agencies and options out there. And so many kids in need of a forever family (check out Adopt US Kids or TARE to meet some of them)!

As a church body, we see this need, and we want to act in Jesus’ name. You might even say that we want to be “For the City” and contribute to the effort to fortify the wall around hurting and vulnerable children in the Rio Grande Valley. Just like in Nehemiah, there is a place for everyone. It might be as a babysitter or a respite (short-term care) provider. It might be as a mentor or a meal-maker. It might be as a 24-7 foster parent. Whatever the role, believe me, your help is needed.

More than anything, church, don't stick your head in the sand. Don't be unaware of the great need that is right beside you. We must have open eyes and ready hands to do the work of the kingdom. We know from Scripture that at least part of this work includes a call to care for the orphans and widows among us (James 1:27).