Foster Mom Shares The Heartache Of Saying Goodbye

For foster mom Amber Davis, there was nothing more rewarding than opening her home to a baby girl in need. And there was nothing more painful than saying goodbye. Amber Davis and her family opened hearts to a little girl who needed a home. For six months they loved this precious baby as their own. And then they got the call informing them she was being moved to another home. [rsnippet id="3" name="Article-Ad"] The foster mom took to Facebook to share how devastating the news was to her family. But even in the midst of such heartache, she also shared how the joys of foster care make the heartbreak of saying goodbye well worth it.

Foster mom Amber Davis wrote:

"We lost the fight. And by 'lost', I mean I didn't get what I wanted. My white picket fence has a hole in it and she's gone.

I made sure she smelled of lavender before she left. Filled her favorite sippy cup with half water, half apple juice for the ride to her new home for a bit of comfort and distraction. Told her I loved her and purposely made her holler and squirm from being hugged too tight. She likes to give hugs, but hates being restrained in one.

Credit: Facebook / Amber Davis

I wonder how long it'll take her new family to figure that out.

I wonder if they'll learn that she's a bit reflective of the Princess and the Pea fairy tale in that she has to have a soft pillow to get comfortable and sleep good at night. Otherwise, she'll grunt and continually wake up throughout the night trying to get comfortable.

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I wonder if they'll figure out that she loves to fist bump and blow it up right before going to sleep. It makes her giggle.

She does sign language now to help with communication. If they ask her, she'll sign 'please' for them and let them know when she's all done eating. I hadn't gotten around to teaching her 'thank you' yet, but that was going to be next.

I know she'll be thrilled if they don't make her keep her headband on her head like I have the past 6 months. She hates them. I'd get the stink eye every time I told her to leave it alone. Sassypants.

Josiah asked why I was packing up her things last night. I answered immediately from the depths of my heart: 'I don't know.' But then I realized I had a responsibility to try to help my growing, curious 4-year-old grasp something that I still don't quite understand myself: why can't she stay? As I fumbled my way through an explanation about needing to go live and be together with her sisters...I could see the look of confusion on his face....'but we're her brothers'.

My brain scrambled for another answer, but I blanked.

So instead I changed the subject. 'The good news is that Avonlea will be here soon and you'll have another sister to play with! And you will be her big brother and she will always live with us.'

I could tell by the look on his face that my lame attempt at explaining things had failed to add up. It just doesn't make sense. Not to him and...frankly...not to me, either.

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The heartbreak is overwhelming me tonight. The tears just won't stop. This first loss is more painful than I ever imagined it would be and something I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.

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So the next time I see that all-too-familiar phone number pop up on my caller ID, asking if we are willing and able to open up our hearts and take in another child who needs us to sacrifice everything we have in order to love them for an undetermined amount of time...I already know what my answer will be.

Absolutely. Let's do this. For 6 months or for forever...we're in."

Called To Love

We are called to love God and to love others. And love often requires sacrifice. A pain-free life may sound ideal, but suffering is just part of the gig while we are on this earth. And God always gives our pain a purpose. RELATED: God calls woman to set an extra plate at her table for foster kids What a beautiful sacrifice Amber and her family made. Saying goodbye is hard, but their love will stay with this child forever. Becoming a foster parent is a calling from God, and we praise Amber and her family for answering His call! "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Mark 10:45 h/t: For Every Mom YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: This foster mom was ready to kick a kid out until she saw these heartbreaking words