By Iris M. Archer

 

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone. Ephesians 2: 21, 22

 

Being a small town girl, I have always been awed by the massive skyscrapers in Atlanta, New York City and other big cities I have visited. These tall buildings stand there as man made beacons in the midst of rainstorms, blizzards, mighty gales and even earthquakes that destroy lesser structures.   Having a foundation that goes deep to steady these skyscrapers plus building the structure in such a way as to provide some flexibility is paramount in their ability to withstand whatever the elements might bring. And of course even with all this provision for lasting stability science cannot always withstand the onslaught of enemy attacks.   As Americans we know this all too well.

 

The philosophy of science however often gives us a viewpoint into the art of living. If we consider the family as a structure with a foundation that must be carefully crafted with just the right materials, we can easily see the analogy. At Covenant Care, we believe in order for a family to survive the elements of life, Jesus must be the corner stone! 

 

The foundation of the family must be strong and built lovingly on the Biblical precepts of the family established and sealed by God. If there are cracks in a family’s foundational belief system, the family will waiver and will often quickly fall prey to the ordinary daily attacks of the enemy.   Even those families whose foundations are secure in the knowledge of Christ Jesus as their corner stone will inevitably fall under attack. It is not if it will happen it is when it will happen! Life for any family in a fallen world brings about disappointments, tragedies, unexplainable calamities and death at the most unexpected time. The question is: Will that family be able to withstand this onslaught? 

 

When Covenant Care Services began over 19 years ago, the board and I prayerfully considered what our requirements would be for our adoptive families to insure that we were doing our best to give God the glory in placing children in adoptive families.   While there are several requirements that our couples must meet, the foundational corner stone of our list is to place children into distinctly two-parent Christian families.  

 

If a family is not foundationally stable and willing to build their family on Biblical precepts of unconditional love, appropriate discipline, wisdom and training, forgiveness, kindness, mercy and grace then the structure becomes flawed.   Our goal at Covenant Care is to choose families who are neither Sadducees (too indulgent) nor Pharisees (too restrictive) in their leaning but to enlist families who do not rely on their own understanding but rely on the Lord to build their family!