Recently at a toddler shower for my two new nephews (T., age 2 and S. age 1) I heard an incredible story about their foster mom named Carolyn. Carolyn is one of the "good guys," caring for foster children until they find a permanent home. She is a respite-- a safe place where children can come and heal and receive love. A place where they know what it is like to be part of a loving family with a mother and father. She counts it no trouble at all to special order shampoo for their hair.
Carolyn isn't just a nice person full of "niceness"--Carolyn is a follower of Christ. She has this amazing ability to put into action what she reads from her Bible and what she says she believes--her faith.
Carolyn cared for these two boys ever since the oldest was 4 months old and the youngest came to her right after he was born. She has her own kids--a lot of them. She is involved with her church family. She homeschools and is already genuinely busy. A few weeks ago, her nephew was killed overseas for being a Christ follower. The press will never say it like that, but what's important here is that there seems to be this thread of pure Christianity running through their entire family.
The more I heard about Carolyn, the more I thought, "Wow, she IS a Christ follower." Then I heard Ang, my sister-in-law, give the private details surrounding Carolyn's last day with my two little nephews. As Carolyn and her other children were bringing my nephews to Angs home, she asked Carolyn if she would please stay a part of the boys lives and come to family birthday parties and such events. Now here is where it gets interesting. Carolyn said that she shouldn't be around the boys for at least a year...enough time for them to "forget her."
FORGET HER?!
Why on earth would someone be okay with being forgotten? Why would someone who's given so much time and money and energy be really okay with being forgotten? It doesn't make sense--even in Christian circles. We want to be remembered for the things we do--our ministries, the work our lives are filled with. We want to be honored--and truthfully, I want to be honored. We like it when our sacrifices are pointed out in the here and now. And here is this woman, Carolyn, who doesn't mind being nameless and forgotten--because she knows that the King will remember.
How beautiful! How lovely! How good! I can't stop thinking about her story.
She welcomed those children knowing that one day she would become nothing more than another face to them.
She stayed up numerous hours caring for and nurturing them throughout infancy. She's read countless stories to them. All for what?
To be forgotten.
"Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—YOU DID IT TO ME."--Matthew 25:40
That is why she is okay with being forgotten.
Because the King will not forget what she has done to Him.
May I learn to be okay with being forgotten.
May I learn to be okay with being unknown.
I just had to share this story with anyone who would take a few minutes and read it. I have never met Carolyn. I have only heard of her. She is so beautiful!
