And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Cor. 9:8, NIV

Over the years, I taught numerous “Fosters” in my classes and chorus. They didn’t share many of the same family traits, but they did carry a few that were obvious: Many of them did not stay for long. They may have been in school for a few weeks or months, and some for years, but rarely did they spend their entire elementary school career in one place. They were often needier than the other children, emotionally and materially. This showed up in attention-getting behavior, an inability to get to school events in the evening, and a sad countenance, especially at Christmas.

One of them, Anastasia “Foster,” fell into the category of “kids I could take home with me.” She hugged me every day during her fourth-grade year as she went out to the bus. Norman “Foster” ruined every class that he entered with his yelling out and poor behavior. Yet Juan “Foster” couldn’t believe that I would want him in my chorus and was thrilled when I accepted him into the group.

The “Fosters” were a family you could say would “take a village to raise.”

You, undoubtedly, have “Fosters” in your school too. These children, wards of the state, have no family they can call their own. They live with generous people who try to take care of them but often lack the special skills they need for the tremendous problems the children carry with them. How then can you, one person, hope to make any kind of difference in their lives?

The answer lies in God Himself. We cannot do all things, but He can. He is able to make all grace abound to you. His grace is sufficient for you. Give yourself eagerly to Him, and watch Him use you in the lives of these children whom He loves. Ask Him to give you what they need to fill up that which is lacking in their lives. The answers to your prayers will amaze you.

Amazing God, we praise You: the One Who knows things we don’t know. May all grace abound to that special person in my classroom. Amen.

Copyright Shirley Wilson.

Shirley is a retired Christian Educators member and former board member of Christian Educators.