I truly admire consistent, steadfast people. They are a rare find.
I met a man this week who's been a foster parent for many years. For the purpose of maintaining confidentiality, we'll call him Charlie in this blog. He's 71 years old, and his gentle demeanor was the first thing I noticed about him. Throughout their time as foster parents, he and his wife have had more than 100 children come through their home. From the stories Charlie shared, he and his wife have seen it all. Name a possible issue that a foster child could face, and they have probably dealt with it.
The story that impacted me the most was about a 12 year-old girl who had come into their care, pregnant. With her uncle's child. The amount of abuse that this child had endured was incomprehensible. Charlie knew that he had his work cut out for him, because this child did not trust men, and for good reason.
His approach to earning this child's trust revolved around one thing: being as consistent as possible. Charlie spoke of how he would remind this child everyday of how much he cared for her. How his home was a safe and secure place where she would never be abused. He would follow through with what he said he would do. He would make his presence known in the house, to let her know he was there for her. She resisted at first. However.
Sixteen years later, this same girl will stop by to visit Charlie and his wife, just to say hello. She will call when she needs a ride to work or another small favor, because Charlie and his wife have become her support system.
And she calls him "Dad". He not only earned her trust, he became her family.
He didn't do it by force. It didn't happen in a day. He was consistent. Steadfast.
I want to be a person like that. I want to be what people call consistent, reliable, loyal, and steadfast. I want to be a consistent friend. I want to be a reliable co-worker. I want to be a loyal family member. I want to be a steadfast lover. I want to be a hard-working student.
That's all anyone's looking for really: someone who is consistent and steadfast in all things.
"But I will sing of your strength;
I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.
For you have been to me a fortress
and a refuge in the day of my distress."
~ Psalm 59: 16 (ESV)
