Surrounded by Heroes

Last week I was honored to receive Child & Family Services Friendship Award for the work Wear 'n Share does for their foster families.  I was served a wonderful dinner while sitting in a room surrounded by heroes. 
Let me start with the amazing group of enthusiastic and compassionate people who work for Child & Family Services.  These are people who make it their personal mission to serve families and ensure a safe environment for their children so they can have every opportunity to stay together and flourish.  But, when there are struggles and obstacles, our other heroes come in, the foster families.  I sat with several in awe as I listened to their personal stories.  One couple told of how they had their first placement, an 18 month old baby who they naturally fell in love with.  After caring for him for 8 months, his family was ready to take him back into their home.  They shared their heartbreak and told us how their 6 year old son cried for days after losing the baby who quickly became his little brother.  And the counselor at our table expressed to them what an amazing gift they had given this family...time to heal when they needed it, so they could be strong enough to raise their little baby when they were ready.  The couple smiled with understanding and said as difficult as it was, they were ready for their next foster child, looking forward to providing the love and comfort for any child who needed no matter how long or short the need.
The woman to my right was working with Child & Family Services to help her adopt her foster child permanently.  She was a friend and neighbor of the mother of this 11 year old girl with special needs.  I struggle to find the words to write this as there is just no kind way to say it, but the mother didn't want her daughter and her friend took her in and cared for her.  She is now in a long process of gaining custody and my heart goes out to her as she fights this battle.  She is the only "mother" this girl has ever known in the true sense of what being a mother means.
Across the room a foster family was being honored for all the amazing work they had done taking in so many foster children.  They had loved being foster parents so much that the father is now  a counselor with Conner's Children's Center, a division of Child & Family Services that provides a home for children who are no longer with their families due to personal situations.
So there I was receiving Wear 'n Share's award for all the work we have done to help children like these.  As puffed up and proud as I was to be receiving this award, my efforts seemed so small in comparison to the people I was surrounded with who give their hearts, bodies, and souls to help children who can't help themselves.  I was honored to be among such heroes.  While I was so grateful to Child & Family Services for their acknowledgement, what I most appreciated was to spend a little time with the people who reminded me why I do the work I do.  If I can take a little burden away from these families, and let these children know there are people out there who care enough to give a little of themselves to make sure they are okay, then my mission is a success.  Thank you to Child & Family Services and their foster families for sharing this incredible evening with me and for giving so much of yourselves to the many children and families you touch.