Life as a Foster Parent: The Golden's Story
"It takes a takes a village” is a phrase commonly spoken when talking about raising children. This statement is also very true for the life of a child in foster care. From those who give of their time and resources to generously provide for the work we do, to the social worker who attends every family visit and walks alongside each foster parent, to the men and women who step in as parents to those children who need a safe home—each part played is truly heroic.
Bobby and Deborah Golden are two of those “superheroes” who have gone above and beyond in their service to children from hard places. This is their story, and we hope it encourages you that, no matter what stage of life you’re in, you have a part to play in the lives of children in need.
THE START OF THE JOURNEY
Bobby and Deborah, married for 22 years, have a 14-year-old son, Dylan, whom they adopted at three months old (all pictured above). With Bobby having served as a firefighter and paramedic for over 20 years and Deborah previously serving in the mental health field, the couple has always served out of their passion to help those in need. While foster parenting wasn’t something they originally planned to do, God directed their hearts, already stirred for the broken, to this new adventure.
Deborah says, “Our church, Arbor Baptist Church, was involved in a week-long mission event with ABCH in Oxford, where we had a lot of direct contact with the children from the Friendship House, and they really touched our hearts. The area director at the time talked to us about becoming involved with ABCH as foster parents. We began to pray about it, and God made it clear to our family that we were supposed to do this.”
THE IMPACT OF FOSTER CARE
Here at ABCH, we train each foster parent, aiming to equip them to the best of our abilities and theirs, to serve these children well. What’s naturally harder to prepare them for, is how deeply it will impact them personally in special, sanctifying ways.
“We had no idea that becoming a foster family would have such an impact on us as a family and on our faith,” Deborah says. “It has made us so much more compassionate toward others—of course for the children, but also for their biological parents, grandparents, and families. We have come to a strong realization of how desperately this world needs Jesus and a love for one another. Is it hard for us at times? Yes, it is, but we can’t imagine how much more difficult it is for the children who have been ripped away from their normal, even when it’s not in their best interest to stay.”
SWEET MEMORIES TO CARRY FOREVER
With some moments harder than others, our foster parents always have the sweetest stories to share—memories they will carry with them for a lifetime. These tiny glimpses into the impact they’re making by opening up their homes and loving children with Christ’s love, in turn impacts the parents themselves.
“We love being able to watch these frightened, unsure, and untrusting children be able to become well-adjusted, begin to trust us, to know they are loved, and to be able to enjoy just being a kid . . . We have laughed at some of their conversations with each other . . . and overhearing them waking each other up in the mornings with conversations such as, I can’t wait to play ball with Duyan (Dylan), or, I wonder what Mama Debbie is going to cook us for breakfast, or, I hope Pop Pop (Bobby) will be home and play with us today. This is what makes all of the adjustments and challenges to our lives so worth it!”