Legal Orphans

I just learned a new term: legal orphans. This is an interesting one to me. A term that is right now rocking my world.

I work at a group home, which many Americans mistakingly call an orphanage. In America, we don't have orphanages. You could think of group homes as modern days orphanages of sorts...however, the kids there typically aren't orphans (their parents are still alive). Their parents, instead, abused and/or neglected them in some way. So they aren't orphans.

Then comes this term: legal orphans. I suppose legally the kids I work with are orphans. For all practical purposes their parents have abandoned them and are essentially dead to them.

This changes my views and gives me a new fire. This fire is about changing America as we know it. I just saw a statistic that said there are half a million foster kids in the U.S. What if we, as a society, led by churches sought to get these kids in permanent foster homes or adoptive homes? What if we moved so swiftly and forcefully on this that the government no longer had any need for group homes?! That would be a great problem to have!

Half a million is a lot kids. But all it takes is half a million willing, loving homes. One kid at a time. One family at a time.

Perhaps I'm just dreaming, but together, we really can make a difference one life at a time. Consider how you can contribute.