Everyday Fostering - A Special Advent - Rediscovering God's Heart for Hospitality (Li Ping)
For our special Advent episode of Everyday Fostering, our HFG foster parent, Li Ping, shares how God used a respite care to bless her family and teach them the deeper meaning of advent and hospitality. Already with 3 active boys of their own and 1 foster child, they amazingly agreed to take in 2 other siblings for a few weeks!
Blessed Christmas 
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! EVERYDAY FOSTERING - A Special Advent – Rediscovering God’s Heart for Hospitality
In Nov, there was an urgent call out in our HFG group for help to care for John and Elizabeth, a pair of siblings aged 8 and 7 respectively, for a few weeks. Many families had already taken in other children and couldn’t help. I must say I initially hesitated offering our home. December was already hectic and noisy enough with four rambunctious boys (aged 7-16), including our own foster son. I was also looking to a bit of a breather after a busy semester in school.
Yet, the thought of two precious children needing to spend their Christmas in an institution (i.e. a Children’s Home) gave me no peace. If we had the space - little that it was – it didn’t feel right to withhold it. So in faith, we agreed to take in John and Elizabeth for respite.
Marjorie Thompson has observed, “In offering shelter, nourishment, rest, and enjoyment to our guests, we often discover that they gift us with their presence.”
Truly, our little guests have been a delightful addition to our tribe. They are wonderful playmates! They inspire our own boys to play in new ways, especially ways that do not involve a screen! Their wonder at simple things reminds me not to lose such childlike awe. They help me see afresh the tender heart of my own foster son, who has taken to the role of being their host and guide with great aplomb. They have renewed my joy in fostering!
Another surprising blessing was how God used this to teach me deeper concepts about Advent. It humbled me to think that our simple act of hospitality was the same that welcomed our Saviour into this world 2000 years ago.
Advent is a time of looking forward to the birth of Jesus. Although a truly momentous occasion, in which the eternal Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us (John 1:14), it is described in Scripture in startlingly mundane terms:
"While (Joseph and Mary) were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.” Luke 3:6-7 (NIV)
We typically imagine that there was no hotel room or inn available for the Holy Family, and so they had to take up residence in a stable with farm animals as their company. The more accurate picture, however, is that there was no private guest room available for Mary and her newborn child in a typical overcrowded Palestinian peasant home: a single-roomed home that had an animal stall under the same roof. The animals’ feeding trough thus became the make-shift crib for the baby Jesus.
On the one hand, this narrative speaks of the humble circumstances of the birth of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
On the other hand, it also depicts the humble hospitality offered to Jesus by an ordinary Palestinian peasant family. They provided what they could. It was no five-star hotel, but it was sufficient. Food and drink, rest and shelter from the elements, they shared the little they had.
This Advent, like that Palestinian family who could only offer a manger for Jesus, we only had our study and two thin foldable mattresses to offer as a make-shift bedroom for John and Elizabeth.
This Advent is truly a special one. I thank the Lord for giving us the opportunity to experience anew what it means to welcome him through welcoming little children in his name (Matthew 18:5).
O Wisdom, Lord and Ruler, Root of Jesse, Key of David, Rising Sun, King of the Nations, Emmanuel. Come, Lord Jesus!
*names of children have been changed to protect their identity*
