The following is an authentic houseparent perspective submitted by Lee, who works with his wife as houseparents at Falcon Children's Home. If you're a houseparent interested in submitting your own story, learn more here. ‍

My name is Lee Wallace I've worked at Falcon Children's Home in Falcon, NC as a houseparent for the past 3 years. Before coming to Falcon, my wife and I served as houseparents in another children's home near Charlotte, NC. That home didn't align with our values so we put in our resignation and theLord opened the door for us to move to Falcon.

We feel like houseparenting is a mission field. It's a little different than foster parenting because we are working with a company and getting so many various kinds of kids.  But because we are employed b your children's home, we have the support and help we wouldn't otherwise have.

My wife comes from a Fine Arts background and I come from a Retail Management background, but God baked us to be houseparents. We have 3 biological kids and have been a part of 75+ kids lives in the past 4 years.

For my wife and I, serving as houseparents is a ministry. We are not in it for the money or the glory, and we don’t see this role as a job. We believe that if you do look at this path as simply a job, you’ll be disappointed. But looking at it as a missionary field will ensure you get way more out of it.

Houseparenting has shown us what sacrificial love means and has pushed us of out our comfort zone to show unconditional love to kids who come from difficult backgrounds.

We’ve learned not to be their friend—they don't need that. It's okay to be friendly, but don't try to act like them to win them. Be a parent to them. Ephesians 6:4 records words along these lines: "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord."   

Being a houseparent is more than just feeding them scripture; you also have to live the scripture in front of them. You cannot be preaching one way and living another way. The greatest Bible these kids will ever see is the life that you live in front of them. Will they be receptive to it? Maybe not while they're with you. However, planting a seed—not just by the words we say, but the life we live—I'm sure when they grow up, they will remember what they learned from you. 

Psalm 127:3 declares that "children are a gift from theLord; they are a reward from him." These children are not a burden, they are not a paycheck, they are God's greatest achievement. They are a blessing.  

Two verses I want to leave you with: "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart" (Proverbs22:6).  It's our job to plant the seed; it's God's job to give the increase, according to I Corinthians 3:6.  

I'm blessed to be a part of this great ministry. Being a houseparent should never be about your own needs, it should be the sacrificial love that you show for the kids that God has entrusted us with.

There are ups and downs but it is truly rewarding to be the hands and feet of Jesus and serve hurting kids.