Read Online Bridge Called Hope by Kim Meeder - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Kim Meeder
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makes some self-deprecating comment like, “If you only knew! Just ask my kids, they’ll tell you what a
star
I am!”
I not only love Bren because she loves her own kids, which one would easily expect … I also deeply admire her because she leads the way in loving those children who can be a challenge to love. Not only does she have three of her own children, she also has three adopted children and has been a temporary mother to many more foster children. I am constantly amazed at how easily she weaves the lives of hurting children in and around her own kids’ lives and encourages both to change each other for the better. Truly, she is one of the most heroic and selfless women I know.
As Brenda began speaking, I could immediately hear that her easy-going manner was strained. Her normal “roll with the punches” outlook sounded stretched and thin. Concern rose in my chest for my friend as she began our conversation with “I need to ask you for a favor …”
After a long and convoluted explanation, I clearly understoodwhy her voice sounded so “tight.” She had explained to me how her family had taken in a small, six-year-old boy, Jason, and his infant half sister. They were received into their home in September after their single mother was incarcerated.
The situation was further complicated by the fact that Jason’s mother, though having never been married, had children with several different men. Therefore, the tiny half sister was released two months later to her biological father. And even though this “father” named Andy truly loved Jason and was the only “dad” that he had ever known … Jason could not go home with him because he was not his biological father and he had no legal right to be involved in his life outside the presence of his mother. Sadly, Andy was just another man who had moved into—and out of—Jason’s life. Unfortunately, at that time, the whereabouts of Jason’s real father was unknown.
Brenda continued to explain how, on that cool September afternoon, a little boy and his tiny sister were brought to her home—complete strangers—and left. In a heart-demolishing moment, the only dad the boy knew came and picked up the baby sister … and drove away without him. In an instant, Brenda’s brand new six-year-old foster son had lost his mother, his “father,” and the only sister he had. All those he knew to be his family, in his eyes, were gone … forever.
As Brenda spoke, I realized that I knew this child. I had met him once before while bumping into the family in a local grocery store. What I remembered most about him were his eyes. Like many kids, he possessed beautiful blue eyes, but what set his apart were his eyelashes. In all my life, on either adult or child, I had never seen such magnificent eyelashes. They were so remarkably long that they brushed not only his cheeks … but his brows as well.
Brenda shared with me how he had mournfully cried, grieving his incredible loss for many nights, and woke up an equal number of mornings in a wet bed. Day by day this broken child began to come to terms with the truth that his life would never be the same.
Within the safety and love of Brenda and her family, Jason slowly began to emerge. His shy expression melted into a smile and gradually into boyish play. Bit by loving bit, the little boy started to rise in the morning with a subtly renewed confidence … and a dry bed.
Incredibly, within this highly fractured family, Jason’s maternal grandparents were located and began to show great involvement with their grandson. After he spent many fun-filled outings with them, his grandparents made it openly known to all that their intentions were to obtain legal guardianship of Jason. Being in their forties, they were still young and had decided that they could give him a loving, stable, and permanent home. Jason was overjoyed.
Brenda continued Jason’s tale of woe by observing how his new horizon of hope was
star
I am!”
I not only love Bren because she loves her own kids, which one would easily expect … I also deeply admire her because she leads the way in loving those children who can be a challenge to love. Not only does she have three of her own children, she also has three adopted children and has been a temporary mother to many more foster children. I am constantly amazed at how easily she weaves the lives of hurting children in and around her own kids’ lives and encourages both to change each other for the better. Truly, she is one of the most heroic and selfless women I know.
As Brenda began speaking, I could immediately hear that her easy-going manner was strained. Her normal “roll with the punches” outlook sounded stretched and thin. Concern rose in my chest for my friend as she began our conversation with “I need to ask you for a favor …”
After a long and convoluted explanation, I clearly understoodwhy her voice sounded so “tight.” She had explained to me how her family had taken in a small, six-year-old boy, Jason, and his infant half sister. They were received into their home in September after their single mother was incarcerated.
The situation was further complicated by the fact that Jason’s mother, though having never been married, had children with several different men. Therefore, the tiny half sister was released two months later to her biological father. And even though this “father” named Andy truly loved Jason and was the only “dad” that he had ever known … Jason could not go home with him because he was not his biological father and he had no legal right to be involved in his life outside the presence of his mother. Sadly, Andy was just another man who had moved into—and out of—Jason’s life. Unfortunately, at that time, the whereabouts of Jason’s real father was unknown.
Brenda continued to explain how, on that cool September afternoon, a little boy and his tiny sister were brought to her home—complete strangers—and left. In a heart-demolishing moment, the only dad the boy knew came and picked up the baby sister … and drove away without him. In an instant, Brenda’s brand new six-year-old foster son had lost his mother, his “father,” and the only sister he had. All those he knew to be his family, in his eyes, were gone … forever.
As Brenda spoke, I realized that I knew this child. I had met him once before while bumping into the family in a local grocery store. What I remembered most about him were his eyes. Like many kids, he possessed beautiful blue eyes, but what set his apart were his eyelashes. In all my life, on either adult or child, I had never seen such magnificent eyelashes. They were so remarkably long that they brushed not only his cheeks … but his brows as well.
Brenda shared with me how he had mournfully cried, grieving his incredible loss for many nights, and woke up an equal number of mornings in a wet bed. Day by day this broken child began to come to terms with the truth that his life would never be the same.
Within the safety and love of Brenda and her family, Jason slowly began to emerge. His shy expression melted into a smile and gradually into boyish play. Bit by loving bit, the little boy started to rise in the morning with a subtly renewed confidence … and a dry bed.
Incredibly, within this highly fractured family, Jason’s maternal grandparents were located and began to show great involvement with their grandson. After he spent many fun-filled outings with them, his grandparents made it openly known to all that their intentions were to obtain legal guardianship of Jason. Being in their forties, they were still young and had decided that they could give him a loving, stable, and permanent home. Jason was overjoyed.
Brenda continued Jason’s tale of woe by observing how his new horizon of hope was
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