Power of Playing

At PS I Love You, we’ve seen again and again that God often moves in the simple things. He moves in the quiet conversations, silly games, and small but steady moments of showing up. For Madison, loving kids in foster care is not just something she does; it is a personal reflection of the love she has been given. Long before she could name it, Jesus showed up for her through the hearts and hands of others. He met her in her mess and now she gets to be a small reflection of the same faithful love.

There was one little girl, we’ll call her B. She played in the lobby of our Resource Center while her foster mom shopped. Madison sat with her, played, and laughed over a matching game, and said goodbye. It felt simple and small, like it might not matter.

Two weeks later, B came back and asked for Madison by name. When Madison opened the door, B ran straight into Madison's arms and held onto her the tightest she has ever felt. In that moment, Madison heard the Lord whisper, "See? Even the smallest moments can hold eternal weight." Madison did not say much, but she showed up, and showing up was enough.

That encounter changed Madison. It reminded her that presence is powerful. When we choose to love quietly and consistently, we reflect the way God loves us. He is steadfast, faithful, and deeply personal.

Even before working at PS I Love You, this calling was already rooted deep in Madison. During her time at Spartanburg Methodist College, she launched the You are Worth It Project as part of her capstone. It was born out of her own story, mentoring kids in foster care, and wanting them to know what she had come to believe: their worth isn't tied to what's happened to them, but it's tied to who they are and whose they are.

Another young teen, we'll call her G. She came in quietly, unsure and guarded, but Madison recognized those walls. She had once built the same ones. Over the weeks, they talked about identity, confidence, value, and healing. Four weeks into tutoring, G filled out a "Who Am I?" worksheet and wrote, "I'm unique in my own certain ways." It was the first time she had ever claimed something like that, and she was not seeking approval; she knew she owned it.

That was a holy moment. A glimpse into the kind of healing only God can do.

Now, whether Madison is playing Uno, giving a hug, offering encouragement, or just remembering a child's name, she gets to be part of something sacred. She may only have an hour with some of these kids, but she prays they walk away knowing they are seen, they are loved, and they matter because they do to her, and even more so to God.