People are so concerned about refugees, and I wonder do they see?
479 orphans in SC alone, without a home
Wishing they, too, had a family to call their own.
They are here. Here now. Thousands in foster care, moving around in refugee state, with no one willing to invite them in… to set a plate.
To welcome them to dinner…to tuck them in bed. They might not be in Syria, but still…
There is no one to say, “I’ll love you forever; I’ll find a way. Come here, and you can stay.”
I’ve probably moved 7-10 times or more in my life, abandoned and hurt by those how should’ve cared…
Now, you won’t dare-- to be inconvenienced… to share.
It is easier to care about a nameless refugee, but what about me, a name here in your state…You can see ME.
When I am thinking over things and trying to form my
perspective—I write. It helps me process complex issues. So many around the world, and my friends on Facebook,
seem so distraught about refugees, and I get it. I really do. It is sad. So many things in this world are a
sad, broken mess.
If you are
worried about how they can’t come right now, what about the refugees that are
HERE? That have been HERE. That live in your community and in your
state. What about the 1500 refugee foster kids that were “rescued” from
families that were supposed to love them right here in our region, but instead
neglected them and abused them or simply chose drugs over them. They are here
and 479 of them are legally free refugees living right here in your state.
There are 2100 churches here in SC, according to the SC
Baptist Convention. That still means if
1 family in every 4 churches chose an orphan to love, we would not have a
single child waiting for a family in our state.
There are 2500 foster children in SC currently, and not nearly enough homes
to care for them, so they are currently wondering from home to home, much like
refugees. I have loved them, and sadly, told too many bye.
Statement from Bethany Christian Services Statement Concerning Pending Executive Order on Refugee Resettlement:
" Each
year, thousands of families arrive in the U.S. as refugees or immigrants – some
are children who arrive as
unaccompanied minors, having been separated from their families overseas as they fled violence or disaster.
Providing protection to those seeking safety is one of our nation’s proudest and longest standing
traditions (https://www.bethany.org/other-services/refugee-services/resettlement)."
I could not agree more, I just wanted to offer a perspective
that there are others already here,
and arriving daily at the local DSS office, that still need you.
They have a refugee status in my eyes.
It is NOT easy. But, being involved in the healing process of
people who have lost so much will never be easy—it will just be worth it.
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