Tomorrow evening I will be attending our church's "Fostering Forum". It's supposed to be small and intimate. We are meeting at a local restaurant...so it promises to be low key. Here's the thing though...for the last year, talking/thinking about foster care has (at least) put me in a funk for a few days thereafter OR (at worst) sent me spiraling into weeks of full on depression.
When I saw the invitation for it, my first response was "hell no, I'm not going to that!" But, my friend (who is a foster mom and the coordinator of the event) texted a few of us (particularly those of us who'd had bad experiences) and personally asked us to attend. I agreed to go. My only stipulation was that I would be allow to be completely honest about our experience. She supported that.
I've already made a mental outline of what I want to say. I WILL find a way to communicate a few key things. I don't care how they are received or whether or not they will be popular...I feel like I have some wisdom and truth to share...even if it goes against the "party line". It's not that I want to be combative or negative (necessarily), but it was SUCH a painful, path altering, faith shaking event in my life, that I feel like I need to be honest with my Christian brothers and sister about it.
As I prepare to go to this meeting, I am bracing for the mental backlash. That means I will need to make sure I ask God to allow me to speak truth in peace and love. I will also ask a few friends to pray for me. I'll need to be careful about making time to de-stress from the situation as well. Maybe it won't be as bad as I am fearing, but it very well could be.
Life Less Sweet: Documentation of my struggle with depression and anxiety.
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