As a foster parent, there are so many future things to worry about.

What will happen when she goes back home?

What if his dad hasn’t really changed?

What if her mom falls back into her addiction?

What if the boyfriend abuses him again?

What if she gets pregnant in high school?

What if he gets a girl pregnant in high school?

What if she doesn’t go home?

Will he ever move past his trauma-related behavioral issues?

Will she ever catch up to her grade level academically?

Will he be on meds for the rest of his life?

What if she stops taking her meds?

How will he handle being back in the chaos of his family of origin?

How will I ever recover when they leave and my heart is broken?

The list goes on.

There are so very many questions about what will happen tomorrow/next week/next month/in a few months/next year/in a few years. You can lose hours and hours of sleep over them. You can spend your days contemplating/fretting over them.

That’s why one of the most important words for a foster parent to practice meditating on is this: TODAY. 

Every day.

TODAY he is safe, warm and well-fed.

TODAY she is getting much-needed speech therapy.

TODAY he is being read to.

TODAY she is being told that she is valuable and loved.

TODAY he is being nourished.

TODAY she is running around outside.

TODAY he is able to be a kid.

TODAY she is being tutored and getting closer to being “at grade level.” 

TODAY his body and mind are safe from abuse.

TODAY her physical, spiritual, nutritional, educational, and emotional needs are being attended to.

As someone who practices meditation daily, I can’t think of many words that are more important for a foster parent to meditate on than the word “today.” It is one of the ways I counter the fear for their future that constantly creeps into my thoughts.

If you struggle with fear for your kids’ future, I suggest that you make time every day to meditate on the word “today.” Take the fears you have for their future and find a “today” statement to counter it. Then sit comfortably, close your eyes, and focus on those “today” statements.

Then go out and enjoy your kids.

Today.