In 1777, one year after the Declaration of Independence was signed, Americans celebrated with fireworks, even though the war would not be concluded for years. The fireworks were set off as an enduring symbol of hope, freedom, prosperity, and the future. Now, two hundred and fifty years later, we have celebrated the Fourth again. This time, across the major cities of our nation, somewhere between twenty-five and fifty million dollars was spent on fireworks! (I sure enjoyed watching the Nashville show on TV, but I could not help but think of how that amount of money could have been spent to help others, especially kids.)
Traditions matter for many reasons, but one of the strongest explanations is that they represent a longing for stability. Many children in foster care have a tremendous gap where stability belongs. Too many children have broken hearts as the result of broken promises. Before a kid can look forward to the next fireworks display, they need to know where they will be sleeping next week. Before they can build cherished family traditions, they need security from adults who consistently show up, keep them safe, love them, and help them heal.
THAT IS WHY THE WORK OF FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION IS SO MEANINGFUL.
Every time a foster family opens its home, an adoptive family says “yes,” or a community rallies around a struggling family, a child moves one step closer to belonging. When we support and “love up” on our families, they are better able to create the traditions that become a child’s most treasured memories: holiday celebrations, bedtime stories, birthday cakes, vacations, Six Flags, prayers, and ordinary moments around the table. Communities that care believe in what can be, not just what is.
We just celebrated freedom in America. Let us remember that one of the greatest gifts we can offer a child is the freedom to simply be: to laugh, to grow, to dream, to try, and to thrive in the arms of a loving and secure family—biological, foster, or adoptive. The strongest communities are built one stable family at a time. Together, all of us can help create homes where traditions begin, hope grows, and every child has the opportunity to flourish.
Just as our American forefathers celebrated freedom before the battle was won, let us strengthen families and place children in safe environments, celebrating hope before the journey is complete.
Blessings
