An inspiring tale of resilience and hope, 10-year-old King, shining with faith and wisdom beyond his years, dreams of finding a forever family who shares his faith.
THE COLONY, Texas — If you remember anything about this week’s Wednesday’s Child 10-year-old King, remember this: he loves Jesus.
Spend even a few moments with him, and his faith shines through in everything he says and does. For one unforgettable day at Hawaiian Waters in The Colony, King got the chance to simply be a kid.
The water slides seemed endless. Laughter echoed through the park. And for a few carefree hours, there were no worries about foster care, moving homes or what comes next.
“This is the best day of my life!” King shouted between rides.
But beneath his bright smile is a story filled with heartbreak, resilience and hope.
King entered foster care when he was just four years old. Since then, he says he has moved from home to home, carrying memories and painful goodbyes with him along the way.
“It becomes difficult to the point you have so many memories with other people to the point you don’t want to leave,” King said.
Yet somehow, despite everything he has endured, King still leads with kindness and faith. “I believe in God,” he said. “I believe He is the Christ that created us.”
When asked about his favorite Bible verse, he didn’t hesitate.
“Philippians 4:13… I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
King is preparing to enter fifth grade and already speaks with wisdom far beyond his years. “What I like about school is that you’re there to learn and that it’s actually supposed to be difficult for you,” he said.
He loves learning and making people laugh. And when people compliment his smile, King says it makes him “feel loved.”
When asked what love means to him, his answer came quickly. “Family. My siblings and my friends.”
King has been separated from his five siblings, all of whom have already been adopted. He is the only one still waiting for a forever family. His caseworker, Mari Gibbens, says King has overcome tremendous challenges while continuing to grow emotionally and academically.
“He’s an awesome kid,” Gibbens said. “He comes from a rough background, and he’s worked so hard to get to where he’s at.”
She says she has watched him transform from a traumatized four-year-old into a thoughtful, self-aware young boy with a huge heart.
“He’s grown to be so aware, so smart. He’s so kind and has such a big heart,” she said. Now, the people closest to King say it is time for him to find permanence, stability and unconditional love.
When asked what kind of family he hopes for, it’s no surprise King wants parents who share his beliefs.
“People that are of Christ,” he said. “That are young… young to keep up with you! And also have siblings.”
A forever family with structure, laughter and enough room for him.
For a few precious hours at the waterpark, King was able to forget about packed bags and uncertainty. He was simply a joyful 10-year-old racing down slides and laughing with the people around him.
And when the day finally comes that King is adopted, Hawaiian Waters says it is ready to host an adoption celebration for him.
“That would be awesome,” Gibbens said. “He would really love that.”
You must go through a licensing process to adopt a child in Texas. For more information about King and how to get licensed, please contact EMPOWER at (833) 7FOSTER. Press * or email wednesdayschild@3empower. Don’t forget to include King’s name in the subject line.
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