I love podcasts.
I just love the convenience of having such glorious listening material at hand in a manner that not even radio can provide. The wide variety of podcasts available from such a range of sources. From the professional outfits who have their studios souped up to the max, to the one man operation that’s just about able to get some sort of audio down. I love it.
There was this podcast featuring an interview with a former footballer who had written an autobiography with a bit of a different to the typical sports memoir. The distinctive factor was the footballer’s upbringing and his challenge of coming through the care system after essentially being abandoned by his parents when he was two years old. The interview was brilliant as the conversation gave room for appropriate emotional without becoming too much and at the same time not glossing over the issue or trivialising it. That’s not easy in a conversation recorded for the benefit of a listening audience, but it was done so skillfully – I heartily commend you to give it a listen here or you can search on other quality podcast platforms for the Iain Dale Book Club’s interview with Mark Bright.
So there I was listening to this and my heart was captured by the subject matter. Children who had not asked to come in the world and once in the world were seen as a hindrance and a burden that the parents could not handle and so left it to state services to deal with. The issues associated with moving from set of carers to another and the children in the middle of it being bemused, confused and destabilised by the lack of continuity and feeling that sense of displacement. Particularly heart rending was discovering a carer very keen to give them the sense of love and belonging they required and that relationship having to come to an end after a few years because of ill health to the carer. When that carer wanted to resume contact after their condition improved, the carer was told that it would not be possible because it would prove to be further confusing and disruptive to where the children had been relocated even though clearly a bond had been developed.
It wasn’t just the former footballer and the interviewer who were choked up as that aspect of the story was shared.
God’s Word talks a lot about looking after widows and orphans. Talks about the responsibility the community has to look out for that and seek their welfare as well as justice for them. When I hear an interview such as the one I heard, it makes the situation that was important to the heart of the heavenly Father have a real importance as a social value. It is more than just filling in, it is providing the love and care that those who are potentially displaced can experience. It’s the living embodiment of how God really is a Father to the fatherless and provides comfort, companionship and constructive support in other ways for those who could find themselves on the edges of society.
I salute those who open their homes and their hearts to those in need of that love and support. It’s my honour a few individuals and couples who have made that sacrifice and social investment. I witness them investing their being into benefiting the need of thos children who need it and I see the love of God in action. They are doing a lot more than just filling in. They are not just providing a vital community service. They are showing the love of God is real on the earth and witnessing their struggles and heartaches, I know it is only the love of God that keeps them going and giving.
Is the system perfect? Of course not. Are there bad examples of carers? Of course there are. Is there more organisations like the church could be doing to support the effort? Of course. That does not negate from the reality, though, that love for God and recognising how He is a good Father is a great motivator and source to be good support and care for those who need it.
My prayer is that others will recognise the need and as lead by the Spirit of God will meet that need. I hope that will lead to interviews featuring those who can celebrate the goodness of God in their lives beacuse of such amazing individuals who do more than fill in a gap.
(Photo by Matheus Ferrero on Unsplash)
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 