They started singing a song I didn't know they knew.
While tuned in to our online church service, the conversation went something like this:
Real Life Rapunzel: "Is that Ms. Janice?"
Me: "That's Ms. Wakenia...who is Ms. Janice?"
Real Life Rapunzel: "Ms. Janice is a teacher at my school. This is her favorite song."
Me: "Way Maker is her favorite song? It's a good one."
In the meantime T-Train, who was also staying with us that weekend, came over to the computer screen and both girls joined in..."Way Maker...Miracle Worker"....some words were clearer than others. (oh how I wish I could share the video clip with you!)
The girls sang loudly on the chorus....they mimicked the motions on the screen (or maybe motions they've observed), lifting their hands, swaying a bit. "Way Maker...Miracle Worker...
THAT IS WHO YOU ARE. THAT IS WHO YOU ARE (that part is the loudest!!)
"Way Maker. Miracle Worker. Promise Keeper. Light in the Darkness."
It is not lost on me that 2 girls in the midst of the foster care system are singing about our God being the Way Maker. He certainly knows they need a way to be made for them. A way for family. A way for identity. A way for receiving and giving love. A way for connecting with their caregivers and those they'll be in relationship with in the future.
It is not lost on me that 2 girls in the midst of the foster care system are singing about our God being the Miracle Worker. He certainly knows they need miracles. Miracles of health and wellness. Miracles of not becoming a statistic. Miracles of parents who work their case plans and make good decisions. Miracles of not getting lost in the system.
It is not lost on me that 2 girls in the midst of the foster care system are singing about our God being the Promise Keeper. He certainly knows they need promises kept. Promises of care and provision. Promises of hope and a future. Promises of belonging and being wanted. Promises that no matter what earthly promises are broken, they are loved and cared for by THE ONE who is truly The Promise Keeper.
It is not lost on me that 2 girls in the midst of the foster care system are singing about our God being the Light in the Darkness. He certainly knows they need that Light. He knows the darkness they've experienced, and He is the light that drives back the darkness. He knows the darkness they will face and He truly is the Light that will be ever present with them.
It is not lost on me that 2 little girls who have known (but certainly have not fully realized) significant trauma and heartbreak in their few short years are singing Truth that will make all the difference in their lives. Truth that could literally be the difference between life and death.
To all the Ms. Janice's out there, I need you to know that your life matters. Your impact matters. Your singing matters. You are planting truth in the heart of every student and teacher and staff person that hears you. You may think you are just singing...but you are impacting lives and planting seeds and speaking Truth that is eternally valuable. Thank you.
God, I trust you with these 2 girls and with every child who never chose to find themselves in the foster care system. I trust You to be their Way Maker....their Miracle Worker...their Promise Keeper....their Light in the Darkness. And I trust You to be all those things to me, too. It's who You are.
