Piece by Piece: How Wraparound Care Strengthens Families in Need

The pieces of the puzzle scattered across the floor that afternoon felt like more than just a mess—each one was a symbol of the brokenness our foster kid, Eli was carrying (name changed for privacy). At just four years old, Eli loved puzzles. When he first came to us, friends and family immediately rallied around him, offering toys and games to help him settle in. Puzzles, especially, became his favorite. It was as though the process of putting the pieces together brought him some peace in a world full of chaos and pain.

But that day was different. Eli had just returned from a visit with his mom, and something about the encounter triggered a deep response. My wife, Jessica, was at home with him while I was at work. As soon as he walked through the door, it became clear that he wasn’t okay. The visit had stirred up feelings and emotions that he couldn’t handle. Instead of verbalizing them, he expressed his pain in the only way he knew how—through rage.

With little hands that usually delicately placed puzzle pieces together, Eli began pulling them apart. He ripped open the boxes of puzzles we’d carefully placed in his room—about 25 of them—and threw the pieces everywhere. Puzzle pieces flew across the floor, embedding themselves in every corner of the room, like a tornado of emotions. The scene was heartbreaking, not because of the mess, but because it was the only way this little boy knew how to communicate his inner turmoil.

Jessica was overwhelmed. As a foster mom, she had been through many difficult days, but this one felt different. Maybe it was seeing Eli, this child she had grown to love, in so much pain, knowing there was no quick fix for the brokenness he felt. There was nothing she could do in that moment to take away his hurt, and that realization hit hard.

As the mess of puzzle pieces covered the floor, Jessica didn’t know where to start. Her heart ached for Eli, but the weight of the situation was too much to bear alone. That’s when the phone rang.

It was Meghan (name changed for privacy), a close friend who had been walking with us through this foster journey. When Meghan asked how she was doing, the floodgates opened, and Jessica shared what had just happened. "Eli had a tough visit with his mom," she said, fighting back tears. "He’s not okay, and now there are puzzle pieces everywhere. I just don’t know what to do."

Without missing a beat, Meghan responded, "I’m coming over."

This is where the beauty of wraparound care comes in. It’s when the body of Christ shows up, not just with words, but with actions. As James 1:27 reminds us, "Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress..." Meghan didn’t just offer words of comfort—she showed up, ready to help.

Meghan arrived within minutes and immediately saw the chaotic scene. But she didn’t flinch. She didn’t offer advice or empty platitudes. Instead, she got down on her hands and knees and began to pick up the pieces. One by one, she gathered the puzzles into boxes, carefully collecting what had been scattered. But her kindness didn’t stop there.

She took the puzzle boxes home, where her husband James was waiting. Together, they spent the evening on the couch, watching movies and putting those 25 puzzles back together. What could have been a tedious task turned into a night of laughter and connection for them. As they pieced together the puzzles, they unknowingly pieced together something much deeper—restoring hope and lifting a heavy burden from our shoulders.

For me and Jessica, Meghan and James’s simple act of service was more than just putting puzzles back together. They redeemed our time and energy, giving us the space to focus on what truly mattered—helping Eli process his emotions and feel safe again. In that moment, Jessica didn’t have to worry about cleaning up or fixing the mess; she could focus entirely on Eli and his pain. And that made all the difference.

Wraparound care is exactly that—it’s about stepping in to help carry the load. Not everyone is called to foster or adopt, but everyone can play a part in supporting those who do. It’s the recognition that while the needs of the child are paramount, the caregivers also need support to provide the best possible care.

For us, wraparound care didn’t look like something grand or complicated. It looked like a friend showing up, picking up puzzle pieces, and giving us the gift of time. Meghan and James weren’t foster parents themselves, but they found a way to be part of the journey, to shoulder the burden with us, even if just for a night.

And that’s the beauty of this type of care. It’s not about doing something huge or heroic. It’s about recognizing the needs in front of you and stepping in, even in the simplest of ways. Maybe it’s cooking a meal, cleaning a home, or, in this case, putting puzzles back together while watching a movie. Whatever the act, it has the power to bring peace, to restore balance, and to lift the emotional load of those in the trenches of foster care.

For foster parents, the daily demands can feel overwhelming. The emotional needs of the children, combined with the practical tasks of running a household, can pile up fast. But when a community steps in and surrounds these families with practical help and emotional support, the burden becomes lighter. It creates space for healing—healing for the children and for the caregivers who are walking with them through their brokenness.

We will always be grateful for Meghan and James. Their simple act of kindness reminded us that we weren’t alone in this journey. Their willingness to show up and put together those puzzle pieces was a gift that extended far beyond that one night. It was a reminder that God’s love and care often come through the hands and hearts of those around us.

In the end, it’s not about the puzzles. It’s about piecing together the broken places in a child’s life through small, everyday acts of kindness. Wraparound care is a call for everyone to be involved—to care for the orphans and widows in their distress, just as James 1:27 tells us. It’s a reminder that, while not everyone is called to foster or adopt, we are all called to care.

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