Last Friday Deb and I were interviewed for a piece to be aired on Fox 13 Tampa regarding Better Together. Better Together is an organization that intervenes to help prevent children from unnecessarily entering the foster care system. For example, when a family has a medical crisis or is unable to locate affordable housing, instead of the children being removed and placed in long-term foster care they go to the homes of volunteers for a short period. The average length of stay in these volunteer homes has been 41 days.
We were interviewed about how we got involved and what our experience has been like. During the interview, we were asked why we volunteer in this manner. We were also asked if we plan to continue to do it and for how long. These were all great questions. However, I’m not sure we articulated our answers well during the interview. Truth be told, I think I might be cringing when I see the report on TV. But since last Friday, I’ve been thinking about those questions, and I decided to share my thoughts here.
However, before I begin, I don’t want anyone to think I’m trying to guilt others into doing what we do. Taking in needy children is certainly not something for everyone. If you feel drawn to it, I’d suggest giving it a try. If not, there are other ways to get involved without actually taking kids into your home. Providing meals or helping cover some expenses the hosting families might incur is one way. For example, the last two kids we took in were teenagers who were in desperate need of some new clothes and new shoes. So we went ahead and purchased them. All I’m saying is please don’t just write off being able to help because taking kids into your home isn’t something for you.
So why do we do it?
BECAUSE WE CAN
At our age, it may seem kind of crazy for us to be taking in children in need. Allie Corey, from Fox 13, who was interviewing us, said we seem to have a lot of energy. I’m not a mind reader, but I wonder if she was thinking we seem to have a lot of energy for “old people”. My first answer to “why” is simply “because we can”. Deb and I are very thankful for the good health we enjoy. Some of that good health and energy comes from staying active and continuing to do physical stuff. Ultimately, we thank God for blessing us with our good health and, sometimes we even have sound minds. But not only has God blessed us with good health He has also blessed us with room in our home and food on our table. Deb and I have the concept that if we can help, we have the obligation to help. We can, so we do.
HEARTBEATS
Each of us has a limited number of heartbeats left (Ecclesiastes 7:2). None of us knows how many. But we all know the clock is ticking. Our goal is to use up our heartbeats wisely. At the finish line, it won’t make any difference what kind of car I drove, how much money I didn’t have, or how many beautiful sites I’ve seen. But the impact on a child whose life is diverted from long-term foster care could have eternal significance.
Colossians 3:2 says, “Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.” If we were to focus on the things of earth, we could easily say we don’t have the time, we don’t have the resources, and it’s not convenient or comfortable right now. But the time, resources, and comfort of this world will all disappear very soon. Then what? We don’t want to be saying shoulda, coulda, woulda for all eternity.
CHRISTIAN
When I dedicated my life to Christ I discovered that many of the things written in the Bible were not suggestions. They were things the Lord expects us to do as His followers. Jesus puts the command to “Love your neighbor as yourself” as the second greatest command. Loving God is the one he says is the greatest. When you think about it, if loving God is the most important, then we will love people because God loves people. One of the many things the Bible teaches us is that pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress (James 1:27). Therefore, it seems obvious, at least to me, that taking in needy children is the Christian thing to do.
Deb and I have no trouble loving people. Big ones, little ones, old ones, young ones. Of course, we know that the world is messed up because of the wrong actions of people. We also know the world would sure be a lonely place without any. Love God. Love people. That’s the Law of Christ. For us, it’s just that simple.
MORE QUESTIONS
So the other questions we were asked were if we “are going to keep doing it and for how long?”
One of the great things about Better Together is that we are not required to be on-call 52 weeks a year. After the last kids were with us, we informed Better Together that we had family coming to visit from out of town, and then we’d be traveling. So they simply make a note that we are not available. Yes, of course, we’ll keep doing it. We’re going to be home now for a couple of weeks and then gone a week and then back again. But as we're available and when they have children to place with us, they know all they have to do is give us a call. We’re here to help.
How long can we keep doing it? We don’t have a pat answer to that question. But here’s how I think I answered Allie during the interview. On our recent trip to Alaska, we met Jimmy and Cathy Knighten. They are first-class people who operate Grizzly Lake Campground, which is where our friend, Dede Duntze lives. Grizzly Lake is very close to the middle of nowhere. I was fascinated with their location and their way of life. Jimmy, in his 70s, delivers mail three days a week and still runs a trap line in the winter. Since Dede and I had already discussed the “when question” of retirement, the subject was on my mind. So, in a discussion with Jimmy, I asked him how long he was going to keep doing what he is doing. He responded, “Until I can’t”. I thought to myself, “I can live with that answer".
Why are we taking in children in their times of need? Because we can. How long are we going to keep doing it? Taking my cue from Jimmy Knighten, I said, “Until we can’t”.
If you’d like to know more about Better Together, here’s their website. Also, Deb and I would gladly answer any questions we can. https://bettertogetherus.org
