I told you last week that we had a court date coming up for our foster children.
I also mentioned that this was a pretty pivotal hearing.
To be a little more specific it was a hearing to terminate birth mom's rights.
My way of handling stressful situations like that is outward calm with lots of inner turmoil. (and stomach ulcers )
Our social worker had warned us that termination hearing's are usually quite long 4-5 hours or more--so we were heavily fortified with prayer, and some "clench-jawed" determination.
What we weren't prepared for was the animosity from the birth family toward us.
I guess it makes sense--we have their children--hence we are the villains.
It doesn't make it easy to deal with though.
The hallway that we were waiting in prior to the hearing was filled with a lot of profanity, and angry comments--all directed at us.
I was stressed out enough that I couldn't even get my thoughts together to form a prayer in my mind.
I tried repeatedly, and finally gave up--hoping that
someone
somewhere
was praying for us.
As we were preparing to enter the court room I felt almost opressed--I wondered how I was going to survive 4-5 hours of this.
We found our seats, and an odd feeling of calm surrounded me.
I felt almost peaceful.
I felt protected.
Like SOMEONE had put their arms around me.
The feeling lasted through the entire trial.
Which, by the way, only lasted 45 MINUTES!!
Later when I told my friend about this she asked when the hearing had started.
I told her it was almost an hour later than scheduled.
She chuckled and said,
I also mentioned that this was a pretty pivotal hearing.
To be a little more specific it was a hearing to terminate birth mom's rights.
My way of handling stressful situations like that is outward calm with lots of inner turmoil. (and stomach ulcers )
Our social worker had warned us that termination hearing's are usually quite long 4-5 hours or more--so we were heavily fortified with prayer, and some "clench-jawed" determination.
What we weren't prepared for was the animosity from the birth family toward us.
I guess it makes sense--we have their children--hence we are the villains.
It doesn't make it easy to deal with though.
The hallway that we were waiting in prior to the hearing was filled with a lot of profanity, and angry comments--all directed at us.
I was stressed out enough that I couldn't even get my thoughts together to form a prayer in my mind.
I tried repeatedly, and finally gave up--hoping that
someone
somewhere
was praying for us.
As we were preparing to enter the court room I felt almost opressed--I wondered how I was going to survive 4-5 hours of this.
We found our seats, and an odd feeling of calm surrounded me.
I felt almost peaceful.
I felt protected.
Like SOMEONE had put their arms around me.
The feeling lasted through the entire trial.
Which, by the way, only lasted 45 MINUTES!!
Later when I told my friend about this she asked when the hearing had started.
I told her it was almost an hour later than scheduled.
She chuckled and said,
"I looked at the clock--thought you were an hour into it, and prayed you would feel God's presence."
