Elevated Friday, January 17th, 2020

Happy Elevated Friday! Today we highlight a story of incredible generosity, love, and perseverance. 75-year-old Linda Herring of Iowa has made a life of foster care. Since the 1970s she has worked tirelessly to provide a home, clothing, and food for children in need and working nights as a custodian to make ends meet. Over the decades, she has fostered over 600 children! Not only is that sheer number incredible, but the manner in which she has done it is truly Jesus-like. She took in children no matter their age, background, or disability. She even made sure to get a professional photo of each child framed and hung on their wall, just to make them feel a little more at home. She’s recently had to step away from foster care due to her own health issues, but she has left an incredible legacy of giving, sacrificing, and persevering through the many difficulties that come along with foster care.

There are few things that embody the heart of Jesus more than foster care. Jesus even spoke about foster care, saying, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.” But foster care itself need not be the only way to “receive” someone in Jesus’ name. When we show compassion, empathy, and love to those who come to us in need, our hearts becomes ever more like Jesus’. Today, receive others with the same love that Jesus received you despite all your flaws.

“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.” — Mark 9:37

Original Article:

http://bit.ly/2RlyhKZ