An Inspiration

In my daily life, it’s very rare for me to run across a person that really inspires me. So when I do, I feel like I need to share it with everyone I know so they too can be inspired! That’s why I decided to write this blog post:

The past few weeks Remie and I have been in the process of refinancing our home mortgage. Oh joy *insert sarcasm*! Our application was approved and now it was time for the appraisal. I have heard horror stories about the appraisers so I wanted to make sure our home was in tip top shape so that hopefully it would be appraised at the highest possible amount. I was really nervous and a bit stressed out about it all.

Yesterday afternoon, Brian, from the appraisal company stopped by to check out our home. I should’ve known from the moment he stepped foot in our home that Brian was not the typical appraiser that I have heard horror stories about! Normally our “attack” dogs won’t let anyone in our home if Remie Sr isn’t there. However, as soon as they saw Brian, the dogs started wagging their tails and even gave him kisses!!! I was stunned at how my crazy dogs were behaving but I shrugged it off.

Brian was very polite as he looked around our home. When it was time to go upstairs, I informed him that the kids were sleeping so we would have to be quiet. He agreed and looked at the rooms without disturbing them. When we came back downstairs Brian says, “So you have three kids under 5 huh?” I said yes and was ready to defend my position on having more than 2 children when Brian surprised the crap out of me. He didn’t judge me at all, instead he started telling me about his wonderfully HUGE family! Brian is the father to 8 children! He explained that 6 of the children are biological children and 2 of them have been recently adopted. He told me the heart wrenching life stories of the children he adopted and then went on to explain that he is also a foster dad! His family has fostered over 20 children and plan to foster more. Brian poured out his heart as he told me story after story about his foster children being neglected, abused and unloved by their parents. When I asked him what made him decide to foster these children he simply stated “These kids need a loving home and if I can help them, I will.”

This story may not be inspiring to you but it really touched my heart. I know that sometimes I am so focused inwards that I am unable to see the needs of others. I really believe that we were all placed on this Earth to love and serve others and sometimes it’s really easy to forget that. We get so consumed by our situations and circumstances that we can’t see beyond ourselves. If only we were all so willing to give our love like Brian’s family, this world would be an incredible place to live.

1 Peter 3:8 "Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble."