12-Year-Old Boy, Desperate to be Adopted, Says 'Praying to God' Keeps Him Smiling
Texas boy Jonah has been with Department of Family and Protective Services for 4 years
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A 12-year-old Texas boy, who is desperately waiting for a family to adopt him, says "praying to God" is what keeps him smiling, despite being stuck in foster care.
Jonah, whose last name wasn't provided, has been in the custody of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services for the last four years while he waits to be adopted by a forever family.
Speaking during an interview with WFAA 8 in Dallas, Jonah discussed his positive outlook for the station's Wednesday Child segment, which focuses on children hoping to be adopted.
When he's feeling down, it's God who keeps him grinning, he says.
"He's brought me through many, many things," Jonah said, dressed in smart shirt and tie.
"As far as abuse before I came into [Child Protective Services]. He's brought me through a lot. Just a lot overall."
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Jonah is an honor roll student who has straight As and says he even got an award for being a multi-tasker.
"I have a desire to have knowledge and wisdom," he told WFAA 8.
Despite his hardships, he said he wakes up every morning smiling and credits God with helping him get through it.
"Waking me up this morning, you know what I mean?" he said.
"Starting me on my way. I'm in my right mind. I know who I am and I'm proud of being the person who I am."
Jonah said with as good as he feels, he wants others to feel the same way.
"I am a person who likes to uplift people," Jonah told WFAA 8.
"The golden rule is to treat somebody the way you want to be treated and that's what I do or at least what I try to do the most."
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But, more than anything else, Jonah wants to be adopted and said he knows the right family for him is out there.
"Reason why I want to be adopted is because I know there's a family out there that fits me in the best possible way that they can," he said.
According to KVIA, newly released Texas CPS data shows that more than 20,000 children exited the foster care system in 2019.
Of those children, more than 6,000 were adopted, and at least half were adopted by relatives.
For more information on Jonah, if you're already licensed, please email all approved home studies to La Queena Warren at [email protected] and include his name in the subject line.
For information on how to become licensed to foster and/or adopt, contact Warren at (817)-304-1272.
