"Open Handed" Living is not for the faint at heart!

If you don't already know, Beth, Maggie, and I are fostering a little boy...Patrick.  We hope to adopt him, but we have learned over the past couple of years that choosing to foster a child through to adoption requires us to live open handed.  We cannot hold on tightly because the process is full of roller coaster turns and moments that have the potential to send Patrick back to live with some family member.  This causes quite a bit of conflict in our hearts because we want to see Patrick's bio parents become healthy.  But their health has the potential for the reunification with Patrick.
So today Patrick visited with a bio grandmother.  This visit did not change anything.  It simply reminded us of the fragility of our relationship with Patrick.  We have to live with our hands open while giving him our hearts completely.

Neil Cole, a writer and pastor has blogged something I read yesterday.  I thought is was fitting for this topic..

This is what a theology of death looks like…
Die daily to who we are
Empowerment of others (not self) is our life
Acceptance of risk is normative
Theology is not just knowledge, but practice
Hold tight to Christ and an open hand for all else.

So I don't want it to be perceived that I am trying to toot my own horn...I am not...Matter of fact, if I was living like this, I would seek out Patrick's parents and do what ever it took to empower them to reunite with their son.  The truth is, I want Patrick to be our son and live with us so we can raise him.  What this helps me remember is that living for Christ requires risk and an open hand.  Pray we can keep them open!