Joy

It’s been awhile, things have been busy. But in a great way!

I was reflecting on being busy and how I use to feel sheer exhaustion with work. Social work is hard. Every day it is super heavy ‘stuff.’ I pondered why I didn’t feel the exhaustion I use to feel, but instead I now feel Joy. Like serious Joy! What has changed, I am still working in child welfare and I do more work than I ever have in my career and at all different levels from certifying homes and placing children to office cleaning! So what’s changed? I landed on the word Perspective.

It is all about perspective. I choose to see the Joy in this really hard work. I am giddy with excitement over babies learning to ‘army crawl’, first birthdays, scooter rides, kids going to gymnastics, little boys learning to skateboard, children learning to fish, rating scales for the best hamburgers, toddlers learning their colors and shapes, and simple conversations about Lego structures. This stuff is the Joy, and this is just a skim off the top of what kiddos at Kin Connect are doing!

I am thankful for foster parents and kinship parents doing the hard work. I am thankful to be a part of this journey. I know that wherever these children land, return home, adoption, or some form of custody that they will be loved, nurtured, and will have the opportunity to heal and grow.

My hope is that all the people working in child welfare can experience the Joy in this work. That even when it is really heavy, we can shift and refocus and land in the Joy of precious moments.