My Ebenezer

Stella. Stella. Stella.

What I want to say to Stella, but can’t. At least not yet. Probably not ever.

Dear Stella,

I am so sorry “the system” has let you down. You should have been removed from the care of your family when you were born and you never should have been returned to them. For fifteen years you have been bounced around from home to home, some relative placements, some straight foster placements and nothing seems to stick. It looks like everywhere you go people give up on you. Your behaviors are difficult to manage but that is not your fault. You don’t deserve what has happened to you and I’m sorry it hasn’t been better.

The good news is that you can decide what happens in your future. You have choices to make and what happens next IS up to you. You can choose to let your past haunt the rest of your life or you can choose to work through it and turn your life into a happily ever after story. It’s up to you now. Your family failed you. “The system” failed you. Society failed you. But you don’t have to fail yourself.

Sincerly,
Your Advocate

UGH. This is hard, guys. Working with a teenager adds a whole new twist to the whole Child Advocates thing because she is old enough to make choices and to have a say in what happens next. I see so many places where Stella is not getting what she needs from CPS. I know, no big surprise there, right? But some of it may be more than what even CPS is able to do. What do I want? I want CPS to move mountains for this girl. It’s what I’m asking and it’s what I’m believing is going to happen. MOUNTAINS. Because one lost girl, one life changed, is worth it.

The Bible says that faith as small as a mustard seed can move a mountain – won’t you help me move a mountain on behalf of Stella? Pray for emotional healing, pray for self-control, pray for the ability for her to make rational decisions, pray for wisdom and pray for her caregiver. She matters.