Editor’s Note: For privacy reasons, names and certain details have been changed. These stories are shared by former houseparents who have served at various children’s homes to offer insight, encouragement, and prayer for those considering this role. To respect the privacy of the children in these stories, we use artistic depictions rather than real photos.
Showing Up: Katie-Beth’s Story
Katie-Beth came to us as a teen—strong-willed, tenderhearted, and carrying more than her share of pain. Over time, we built a relationship based on trust and grace, though her path after leaving our home wasn’t always easy.
Years later, we got a phone call we never expected.
Katie-Beth had become pregnant, but due to complications, she delivered her baby at just 20 weeks. She didn’t have much family around her. But when she needed someone to stand beside her in that moment of grief, she called us.
She asked if we would come to the funeral.
So we did.
My mother and I quietly showed up, not to fix anything or say the right words, but simply to be there. We sat with her, hugged her, and reminded her she wasn’t alone.
We were the only part of her past—the only connection to her sense of “home”—that showed up.
Katie-Beth was so grateful. And though the grief was deep, that day reminded us: sometimes ministry looks like just sitting beside someone while they mourn.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the sacred gift of presence. For children like Katie-Beth, who need someone to stand with them—not just during the good, but during the heartbreak too. We ask You to call new houseparents to this ministry. May they be people who will stay rooted through the storms, offering quiet love that lasts far beyond a placement. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.