He doesn’t look very good on paper. The documentation on him reveals a pattern of truancy, fighting, and a few other delinquent type behaviors. Consequently he has scared off moreht than a few prospective foster families. The future for a big strapping six foot plus 15 year old kid with that kind of record in the foster care system is not real bright. In a few short years, he will age out of the system, and be on his own.

The cynical among us would say that prison could figure prominently in his future. I might be tempted to conclude the same thing, but I am privy to some pertinent information that causes me to think otherwise. This particular 15 year old has an angel looking over his shoulder. The court system refers to her as a Court Appointed Special Advocate, or CASA volunteer for short. A CASA volunteer is a trained citizen appointed by a judge to represent the best interests of an abused or neglected child in court. Her friends just call her Leah.

Leah definitely has his best interests in mind, but most importantly she really cares about him. He is no longer in a foster home in the county where she resides, but that has not stopped her from reaching out to him. There are of course legal restrictions on what she can and cannot do.
She dutifully follows the guidelines down to the last letter.

I have no idea what kind of experience that young man has had in the foster care over the years.
Of course something horrific occurred to trigger a removal from his biological family in the first place. Where will he turn when he becomes an adult? Where will he find a place at a Thanksgiving meal? Will there be someone to buy him a Christmas present? Will he rediscover biological family? Will a kind foster family include him in their holiday celebration? I just don’t know… I don’t particularly like not knowing!

As a law enforcement chaplain, I often meet young men just like him with in less than ideal circumstances. I am thankful I can go to bed tonight knowing that there is one 15 year old in the foster care system who has angel looking over him. Leah and her husband Kevin will warmly welcome that young man into their home. He will have a place at the table and a gift under the tree. He wil be loved and not abandoned. He doesn’t look very good on paper, but his guardian angel still thinks he is great. May we thank God tonight for the tender and kind among us….