Half a million. That is how many children currently reside in the foster program of the United States as of today. Out of this number, over 50 percent of these children live in non-relative foster family homes. Do we, as a society, even comprehend the drastic effects of this situation on our nation’s future? Not only are thousands of kids growing up without an official place to call home, but many children continue throughout this broken-home lifestyle for the rest of their lives.

Ultimately, it was and is never the government’s responsibility to take care of this situation. Improperly placed on politicians and government workers’ agendas, it is a shame that we continually give them these expectations while hoping they will somehow take action without us making an effort to change the situation ourselves. Those families and individuals who are constantly taking in foster children and adopting children through various programs are truly heroes in my eyes, and this post is not to bash the progress they are continually making every day with their dedication and hard work. I would simply like to state my opinion in expressing that we as a community, society, and church need to do something more than what we are doing now.

“Religion that God accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27

I do not use the term “religion” often, as I think it gives people the wrong connotation of the church today. However, there is an excellent point made here. This is clearly a commandment and one we should seek to follow as a church and a community much more often than we do. In the United States, there are thousands upon thousands of churches, and it is nauseating to think that there are still half a million children circulating through foster homes whether they be sufficient or broken residences. These kids should not have the constant thought that they belong to the government. We are called to take these kids in, love them, and show them someone cares.

Again, there are hard-working people who are constantly taking care of these children and loving on them, and I am here to extend my gratitude to what they have already done and are doing for the children in this program. I am also not here to send a hate message to families and individuals who are not associated with any foster or adoption programs. I am simply here to express the gruesome reality that children around our country are facing every single day of their lives. When it all comes down to it, what are we doing to help this problem? Go walk alongside these children and take them in, bear the weight of their struggles, and love them. This is definitely not a situation we should simply brush off our shoulders.

We are called to act.