(Repost from The THRIVE Journal, June 6, 2013)

“You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.” ~ Khalil Gibran

Last week, my family took a road trip to Ithaca, New York to celebrate Vanessa’s graduation from Cornell University. Besides attending graduation ceremonies, we spent time sightseeing, cooking, putting together puzzles, and enjoying time with her roommates’ families. We all had a great time. Here I am thriving with Vanessa, Nina, and Zachary at Ithaca Falls:

On our drive home to Miami, we stopped at Princeton University so that Nina could tour the campus. Princeton is her number one choice as she begins the college application process this fall. Even though it was pouring rain when we arrived, she didn’t mind posing for a picture:

Throughout the road trip, I kept thinking about the differences between my children’s lives and the lives of the teen girls I have been volunteering with at His House Children’s Home. Zachary and Vanessa have had my husband and I to coach them through to adulthood, plus many other positive adult role models and mentors. And we will continue to be right there for our niece, Nina. But who is going to coach these foster children through? Who will mentor them? According to information available through the National Foster Care Month Website, foster children with mentors are more successful in transitioning to adulthood.

I kept thinking “What are you going to do?”

By the time we had returned to Miami, I had made up my mind to formally become a mentor to one of the teen girls. I have my first one-on-one mentoring meeting with Susy* soon. I am going to believe that I can make a positive difference in the life of one foster child.

By the way, have you read the book THRIVE! yet? Join me and many others as we seek to live out a deeper spiritual walk with God.
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“Praise The Lord! How joyful are those who fear the Lord and delight in obeying his commands. Their children will be successful everywhere; an entire generation of godly people will be blessed.” (Psalms 112:1&2 NLT)

(*name has been changed)