Foster Children Quotes

“Dear Yesteryear,
I do not feel alone anymore. I have found love. Maybe I should say love has found me. Well, to be fair, we found each other. Yesterday, I didn’t have a home. Yesterday, I didn’t have a pillow where I could lay my head. Yesterday, it was hard to find peace. Yesterday, I wondered if morning would ever come. Yesterday, I was unable to love, dream, and trust. Yesterday, I didn’t understand life. Yesterday, I was walking in my shadow. I didn’t know if I had meaning or a purpose.
I am healing from my yesteryears. However, I am still rough around the edges and still have a lot to learn. I used to be so empty inside, but now I have lovely people to fill my no-longer-empty arms. Yesterday, my path was different. I was confused, not knowing if I should go right or left— move forward or turn around. I do not know what life has in store, but I know for a fact that I do not have to worry about the deadly and narrow path anymore.
Yesterday, my sun was blocked by my shadows and everything thing else that came along that didn’t serve me. However, today, the sun is shining brighter than it ever has in my entire life.
Yesterday, I will never forget you. You’ve taught me many lessons. I was taught lessons that a young person should never experience or even know about. Some lessons in life leave permitted marks. There have been many lessons I’ve learned that have left so many scars on my heart, but life goes on. I use to be overwhelmed by hate, disbelief, and not knowing if I was going to make it. Now, I am surrounded by warm hugs, smiles, love, and peace.
Yesteryear, you will never be forgotten. I am healing, and it is a beautiful thing.”
― Charlena E. Jackson, Pinwheels and Dandelions

“I thought to myself, time was never on my side—after all of this, it was, because it led me to the right place at the right time.”
― Charlena E. Jackson, Pinwheels and Dandelions

“Yesteryear, you will never be forgotten. I am healing, and it is a beautiful thing.”
― Charlena E. Jackson, Pinwheels and Dandelions

“During the day, my mood is cloudy, uncertain, blurred, depressing, and there is so much fog I can’t see the sun, nor do I have a head's up that the rain is coming. I wish just one day my mood could at least be fair skies.”
― Charlena E. Jackson, Pinwheels and Dandelions

“I believe there are a lot of devils who walk on this earth. They just look like human beings.”
― Charlena E. Jackson, The Stars Choose Our Lovers

“~Pinwheels and Dandelions~”
― Charlena E. Jackson, Pinwheels and Dandelions

“I know it is hard to trust, but sometimes we have to take a chance. There was a time when nobody could put out my fire, not even water. The wind knew my pain because it helped fuel my fire, and it spread effortlessly without even trying. My heart was bruised in ways that nobody could ever imagine. However, I survived. I’ve had many days that used to be uncertain. Now, I am exactly where I belong. I am home.”
― Charlena E. Jackson, Pinwheels and Dandelions

“She brought a chair into the room and placed it alongside the top of his bed. Then she held his hand as he drifted off to sleep. It was so small in her own hand, and it felt warm and dry. She pressed his hand gently, and his fingers returned the pressure, but only just, as he was almost asleep by then. She remembered, but not very well, what it was to fall asleep holding the hand of another; how precious such an experience, how fortunate those to whom it was vouchsafed by the gods of Friendship, or of Love. She thought she had forgotten that, but now she remembered.”
― Alexander McCall Smith, Bertie's Guide to Life and Mothers

“My soul is no different from a Lotus flower. I didn’t start my journey in fresh water because my environment was not pleasant. Just like a Lotus flower, my life was surrounded by insects, debris, and so many unpleasant things and people. However, just like the Lotus petals are never contaminated by the murky water, my core remained pure. Just like the Lotus flower, I came from a place of suffering. However, I remained true to myself. I have overcome many obstacles in my life. I am proud of myself—because this time, I jumped a little higher over the hurdles. I have finished the never-ending race. I have officially crossed the finish line and have a fresh start! I am renewed, and I am loved!”
― Charlena E. Jackson, Pinwheels and Dandelions

“Helping a child today will help prevent a broken adult tomorrow.”
― Kathleen Paydo

“My wings were clipped, but they grew back. However, they have been clipped again, and the process will continue until I free myself from my past.”
― Charlena E. Jackson, Pinwheels and Dandelions

“Yesterday, my sun was blocked by my shadows and everything thing else that came along that didn’t serve me. However, today, the sun is shining brighter than it ever has in my entire life.”
― Charlena E. Jackson, Pinwheels and Dandelions

“Life has a way of showing you how strong you are and how much you can take. They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I guess there’s some kind of truth in that. As for me, what didn’t kill me broke me into a trillion pieces. What didn’t kill me made me bitter. What didn’t kill me caused a lot of hurt and pain. What didn’t kill me made me want more out of life. What didn’t kill me after all the shit I’d been through finally showed me mercy.”
― Charlena E. Jackson, Pinwheels and Dandelions

“I read that a lotus flower at times only partially opens, and the center is hidden. Just like you, there were times when I slowly opened up to people. I hid my inner core because mentally, I didn’t know who to trust. However, I arose from the midst of suffering. Again, just like you, I withstood highly adverse conditions and had to repair myself mentally and physically.”
― Charlena E. Jackson, Pinwheels and Dandelions

“Dear Lotus Flower,
Nobody knows, but you are my favorite flower. We are unique, and we have so much in common. Your shadowy, murky origin found enlightenment as you were on the hunt for light. I, too, was on the quest for light for many years. For years, I was thirsty for light, and now my thirst is quenched. All of those years, I yearned and wanted to break free and bloom. However, I had to keep moving, growing, and believing.”
― Charlena E. Jackson, Pinwheels and Dandelions

“The wind knew my pain because it helped fuel my fire, and it spread effortlessly without even trying.”
― Charlena E. Jackson, Pinwheels and Dandelions

“I do not feel alone anymore. I have found love. Maybe I should say love has found me. Well, to be fair, we found each other. Yesterday, I didn’t have a home. Yesterday, I didn’t have a pillow where I could lay my head. Yesterday, it was hard to find peace. Yesterday, I wondered if morning would ever come. Yesterday, I was unable to love, dream, and trust. Yesterday, I didn’t understand life. Yesterday, I was walking in my shadow. I didn’t know if I had meaning or a purpose.”
― Charlena E. Jackson, Pinwheels and Dandelions

“Yesterday, I will never forget you. You’ve taught me many lessons. I was taught lessons that a young person should never experience or even know about. Some lessons in life leave permitted marks. There have been many lessons I’ve learned that have left so many scars on my heart, but life goes on. I use to be overwhelmed by hate, disbelief, and not knowing if I was going to make it. Now, I am surrounded by warm hugs, smiles, love, and peace.”
― Charlena E. Jackson, Pinwheels and Dandelions

“Yesterday, my sun was blocked by my shadows.”
― Charlena E. Jackson, Pinwheels and Dandelions

“Dear Lotus Flower,
Just like you, my roots were always latched in the mud. I envied you because you were in the dark, murky water only at night—when the daylight arose, you bloomed. Unlike you, I was submerged in nasty water every day and night, but the light abandoned me. Came the morning light, and somehow miraculously, you rebloomed, sparkling, and so clean. I sort of bloomed at night with the moonlight and stars. However, the next morning I wasn’t so lucky because the morning light was nowhere to be found. Things got better for me slowly but surely. I must say, no matter how many times our roots were in the dirtiest water, we survived. We survived because our roots provided the nutrients that allowed us to bloom.
I read that a lotus flower at times only partially opens, and the center is hidden. Just like you, there were times when I slowly opened up to people. I hid my inner core because mentally, I didn’t know who to trust. However, I arose from the midst of suffering. Again, just like you, I withstood highly adverse conditions and had to repair myself mentally and physically.
Nobody knows, but you are my favorite flowers. We are unique, and we have so much in common. Your shadowy, murky origin found enlightenment as you were on the hunt for light. I, too, was on the quest for light for many years. For 16 years, I was thirsty for light, and now my thirst is quenched. All of those years, I yearned and wanted to break free and bloom. However, I had to keep moving, growing, and believing.
My soul is no different from a Lotus flower. I didn’t start my journey in fresh water because my environment was not pleasant. Just like a Lotus flower, my life was surrounded by insects, debris, and so many unpleasant things and people. However, just like the Lotus petals are never contaminated by the murky water, my core remained pure. Just like the Lotus flower, I came from a place of suffering. However, I remained true to myself. I have overcome many obstacles in my life. I am proud of myself—because this time, I jumped a little higher over the hurdles. I have finished the never-ending race. I have officially crossed the finish line and have a fresh start! I am renewed, and I am loved!
Triumph should be my middle name because I never gave up.”
― Charlena E. Jackson, Pinwheels and Dandelions

“Triumph should be my middle name because I never gave up.”
― Charlena E. Jackson, Pinwheels and Dandelions

“Dear Lotus Flower,
Just like you, my roots were always latched in the mud. I envied you because you were in the dark, murky water only at night—when the daylight arose, you bloomed. Unlike you, I was submerged in nasty water every day and night, but the light abandoned me. Came the morning light, and somehow miraculously, you rebloomed, sparkling, and so clean. I sort of bloomed at night with the moonlight and stars. However, the next morning I wasn’t so lucky because the morning light was nowhere to be found. Things got better for me slowly but surely. I must say, no matter how many times our roots were in the dirtiest water, we survived. We survived because our roots provided the nutrients that allowed us to bloom.”
― Charlena E. Jackson, Pinwheels and Dandelions

“Dear Fire in the Sky,
I know that you know well enough what tainted love is. I wonder, is that why you destroy any and everything that crosses your path? I want to let you know that I feel your pain, but not all love is tainted. I know it is hard to trust, but sometimes we have to take a chance. There was a time when nobody could put out my fire, not even water. The wind knew my pain because it helped fuel my fire, and it spread effortlessly without even trying. My heart was bruised in ways that nobody could ever imagine. However, I survived. I’ve had many days that used to be uncertain. Now, I am exactly where I belong.
I am home.”
― Charlena E. Jackson, Pinwheels and Dandelions

“There was a time when nobody could put out my fire, not even water. The wind knew my pain because it helped fuel my fire, and it spread effortlessly without even trying.”
― Charlena E. Jackson, Pinwheels and Dandelions

“Helping a foster child today may save a broken adult tomorrow.”
― Kathleen Paydo

“When we place children to fill beds, we are creating a system of temporary housing rather than a long-term solution of finding children their forever, safe, and loving families.”
― Tori Hope Petersen, Fostered: One Woman’s Powerful Story of Finding Faith and Family through Foster Care

“Too many people throw money and goods at vulnerable youth when they need time, basic skills, and long-term relationships.”
― Tori Hope Petersen, Fostered: One Woman’s Powerful Story of Finding Faith and Family through Foster Care

“I didn't want to be treated like charity. I wanted to be invested in. If we want to see our foster youth empowered, we must grant them responsibility. I want vulnerable youth to have what they need for today, but more than that, I want vulnerable youth to obtain the skills they need for their families tomorrow.”
― Tori Hope Petersen, Fostered: One Woman’s Powerful Story of Finding Faith and Family through Foster Care

“The foster care system should not be used solely to house children but should be used to help them heal.”
― Tori Hope Petersen, Fostered: One Woman’s Powerful Story of Finding Faith and Family through Foster Care

“On Charles Dickens: Seriously old guy, dead, and a foreigner. But Christ Jesus, did he get the picture on kids and orphans getting screwed over. And nobody giving a rat's ass. You'd think he was from around here. (Appalachia)”
― Barbara Kingsolver, Demon Copperhead