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Monday, December 29, 2008

Social workers are people, too

What would you say if you saw a chubby, grinning little boy in a woman's arms, straining to sink his fingers into her hair and babbling away?

Now, what would you say if the last time you saw that baby he was emaciated and listless? 7 weeks old and four ounces under his birth weight? Broken bones, but no energy to protest the pain wracking his little being?

Would you cry?

The CPS worker who brought Manolin into care did.

She saw him--all 16 lbs. and 10 oz. of his not-quite 7 month-old self--for the first time again today. She stroked his cheek. Talked to him. Had to hold him in her arms to know for sure it was real.

"This one," she said, handing him back to me, "I never thought would make it. And not like this, for sure. I just knew in my heart when I brought him in that he was broken for good. But look at him."

Healthy. Happy. Normal.

"God is good," I smiled, shifting him on my hip so that his constantly moving fingers couldn't find my glasses.

She beamed, and then winked.

"All the time," she answered.

13 comments:

Happy Elf Mom (Christine) said...

Waaah! Ohhhh... how sweet and wonderful! God IS good.

Lisa said...

How wonderful to hear about a good SW!! Thanks for sharing!

Liz said...

that is "freaking awesome" to quote my foster daughter.
really heartwarming :)

RRigdon said...

Amazing. Reading your blog is the only thing that makes me think I could maybe endure the potential heartbreak of fostering--I'm so afraid of losing another baby. But what you are doing is so WORTH IT!!

Anonymous said...

Tears! It is amazing to see God's blessings and mercy right in front of your eyes. You are so lucky to have a living breathing example of His grace in your arms. May God Bless you greatly every day!

Kate said...

God is still in the miracle business!!

Barry and Amy said...

That is amazing.

Thank you so much for sharing.

My husband and I are in the process of adopting a child from our foster care system and the wait is so hard. I love to read about other people's journeys, it gives me hope.

God bless you.

Gayle said...

Oh Gosh. How could such a short post make me sob? That God of ours sure knows what He's doing, doesn't he? So glad that you got to be the one to help heal this little boy.

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful post. Thank you for sharing. Yes. God is good. All the time.

Luke Holzmann said...

Amen!

That is fantastic!

~Luke

Unknown said...

Okay Now IM crying! That was beautiful. Great Job Mama! Still praying that he's a keeper for you! ;)

Sarah said...

No wonder she cried. I'm crying, too. God IS Good. All the time.

Benny said...

He really is just so happy, so full of light and life that I forget that he was once that broken little boy...

God really is so good. And Manolin really is such a miracle baby. That smile of his just melts hearts. Not to mention the beauty of his deep baby belly giggles!

Benny