09/11/2026
“He asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’” Luke 10:29
A man is beaten, broken, and left on the side of the road. People pass by. They see him, but they keep walking. Then a Samaritan comes along. He sees him and moves toward him. He doesn't stop to ask how he got there or what choices led him there. He has compassionnd helps him.
And Jesus says, “Go and do likewise.”
Sometimes we talk about fostering as though the child is the only one on the side of the road, but there are often families there, too. A child may be hurting. A mother may be hurting. A father may be hurting. A family may be carrying trauma, addiction, poverty, abuse, or circumstances we will never fully understand nor will ever see how they got there.
It is easy to love the child while deciding their parents are the problem, but what if we chose to see both?
Not to excuse abuse and neglect. Not to minimize what happened. But to remember that a child's biological parents are still people made in the image of God. People who need compassion and help. People whose story doesn't have to end where it is today.
Because when we welcome a child into our home, we aren't replacing their family. We're stepping into a painful chapter of their story. A story of loss, hurt, and grief. But hopefully, their story won’t stay there. Hopefully, it will also be filled with healing, love, and redemption.
Sometimes fostering means being the safe place a child desperately needs. And sometimes it means loving their family enough to hope they can become healthy enough for their children to return home.
The Samaritan didn't just notice the wounded man. He moved toward him. Maybe that's what we're called to do. To move toward children and families. To move toward the messy, complicated, hurting places we'd rather avoid.
Jesus asks us to, “Go and do likewise.” Will you be the one that steps out in faith?
Interested in learning more about our foster care program and how to become a licensed foster parent with us? Please fill out our interest form to get started: https://102004ncfc.extendedreach.com/Clients/NorthCarolina/102004ncfc.nsf/F_PUBLIC_INQUIRY?OpenForm&unid=493BBE90B7E668A785258A64000FEDD3
