Reframing Parenthood Through the Lens of Christian Stewardship

In a recent reflection on the nature of parenting, a foster mother explores the common misconception that foster children are less 'real' than biological children. She argues that society often equates parenthood with ownership, viewing biological children as permanent and foster children as temporary. However, she contends that this distinction is an illusion that ignores the inherent uncertainty of life.

Drawing on C.S. Lewis’s essay 'Learning in War-Time,' the author suggests that the instability of foster care mirrors the reality of all human existence. Just as Lewis argued that the conditions of life remain unchanged during wartime, the author posits that all parents face the possibility of loss and the reality of mortality. She teaches that foster care simply makes these universal truths more visible, stripping away the false sense of control that biological parents often maintain.

Ultimately, the author encourages believers to view parenthood not as a matter of possession, but as a calling to love and care for children regardless of the duration of their stay. She suggests that the Christian faith challenges the idea of ownership, reminding believers that all children are entrusted to them rather than belonging to them.