004: Opening Your Heart and Your Home with Megan Wetendorf

20/04/2020 59 min
004: Opening Your Heart and Your Home with Megan Wetendorf

Listen "004: Opening Your Heart and Your Home with Megan Wetendorf"

Episode Synopsis

There are some interviews that just crush your heart, and my (Derek) time with Megan Wetendorf was one of those times.  I feel the need to make full disclosure: Megan is our daughter and she and her husband, John, have adopted two children and are into their third foster placement.   There is just something about the plight of children who have to be removed from their parents because of neglect or a high likelihood of harm coming to them in the home, that exposes my most raw emotions.  How do you the acknowledge the abuse and horrors that have at times befallen these sweet children and move beyond it to genuinely love the people who may have inflicted the pain? How do you move from wanting to shield and protect these children to whole heartedly supporting reunification?  As Megan writes in a blog article on our website, "It is actually pretty simple.  Be open and engage them in your reality and pray, pray, pray for them". With remarkable honesty Megan spoke with us about the challenges of staying on the same page as husband and wife, bonding with foster and adopted children, managing challenging relationships and about being catalytic in encouraging life change in the biological mother and family.  In the end, foster parenting is about grace and hope.  Megan's heart for these children and their biological families comes across with crystal-like clarity that challenges us to answer God's invitation to care for these children in need of a safe and loving home.  Enjoy the episode!Recommended Resources for Foster ParentsDear Birthmother.  A great resource to get inside the heads and hearts of one of the victims in the system - birthmomsUS purchase - click hereCAD purchase - click hereFaith to Foster.  A wonderful book that follows TJ and Jenn Munn through many placements across many states. US purchase - click hereCAD purchase - click hereWelcome to the Roller Coaster.  My personal favorite.  A compilation of diverse stories of foster stories, written by foster moms, dads, and foster kids. US purchase - click hereCAD purchase - click hereRecommended Resources for the child.My Family, My Journey: A Baby Book for Adoptive FamiliesUS purchase - click hereCanada purchase - Click hereLove You From Right HereUS purchase - click hereCanada purchase - click hereSupport the show