Leather-Bound Bibles
When five-year-old Benjamin* entered foster care, he hid behind his social worker, holding his favorite toy truck. Everything familiar had suddenly changed. He was in a new place with people he did not know, and he already missed his parents.
Waiting to welcome him were his foster parents, Lori* and Mark*. They knew it would take time for Benjamin to feel safe and comfortable in their home, so they started by learning the little things that mattered to him. They quickly discovered that he loved milk, treasured his toy truck and strongly disliked taking baths. Thankfully, Mark eventually found the secret to making bath time a little easier: toy dinosaurs.
As Benjamin slowly adjusted to his new routine, Lori and Mark also began getting to know his biological parents, Emily* and Daniel*. From the beginning, both families wanted the same thing and that was to love Benjamin well and give him the support he needed.
Over time, their conversations became easier. Trust began to grow, and the four parents developed a friendship.
During one visit, Emily asked Lori where she and Daniel could get Bibles. Benjamin had been talking to them about church and sharing the Bible stories Lori and Mark read to him. His excitement had sparked something in Emily and Daniel, and they wanted to learn more for themselves.
It may have seemed like a simple question, but Lori understood the vulnerability behind it. Emily and Daniel were walking through an incredibly difficult season, and asking for a Bible was a meaningful step.
Lori smiled and told Emily, “I know where to get some. I’ll bring them the next time I see you.”
As soon as Lori left the visit, she called Mark.
“The visit went so well,” she told him excitedly. “Emily even asked for a Bible!”
The next time Lori and Mark saw Benjamin’s parents, they brought two leather-bound Bibles, one for Emily and one for Daniel, each engraved with their name.
In many homes, an engraved Bible may seem like an ordinary item. But to Emily and Daniel, these Bibles meant so much more. They were a reminder that they were seen, cared for, and not alone.
Foster care can create complicated relationships between biological parents and foster parents. There can be uncertainty, grief and many difficult emotions. But in the middle of it all, Benjamin’s two families were finding a way to walk alongside one another. They were building trust, offering encouragement, and keeping his needs at the center.
Meanwhile, Benjamin was busy doing what five-year-olds do. He was playing with his truck, singing songs, and slowly becoming more comfortable in Lori and Mark’s home. Each night, they prayed together before bed.
One night, Lori and Mark asked Benjamin what he was thankful to God for.
“My milk,” he answered. “My truck…and my church.”
For now, this is where Benjamin’s story stands. He is still in foster care, and because his case is new, no one yet knows what the next chapter will hold. There is not currently a plan for reunification or adoption. Those answers will come with time.
Today, the focus is simply on giving Benjamin the safety, consistency and love he needs while continuing to care for and encourage Emily and Daniel along the way.
Foster care does not always come with quick answers or a clear view of what lies ahead. Sometimes faithfulness looks like caring for a child today, loving his family well and trusting the Lord to make the next step clear in His time.
For Benjamin, today looks like a safe place to sleep, two families who care deeply for him, nightly prayers, a church he loves and, of course, his favorite truck.
*Names have been changed for privacy