2 januari 2010: New Year Speech 2010 of the Governor

Distinguished guests,

Every year on the New Years reception I invite a particular group of people who make a significant contribution to our society, such as teachers, spiritual leaders, people in sports, people who serve in healthcare and many others. Tonight I like to thank two seemingly unrelated groups of people: Artists and foster parents.

Do they have something in common? I think they do. They are people of the soul.  For them it is only possible to work well, if their soul is touched. An artist is deeply touched, emotionally moved by some aspect of life; it takes root in her heart and then brings forth a beautiful work of art, which in turn, will move another person when he encounters that art work.  Art is not just a technique, a skill. Art without soul is dead.  Art lives, and touches people’s soul. Haven’t we all pinked away a tear, when hearing a beautiful song? Haven’t we all stood in awe in front of a powerful painting? Weren’t we at times deeply touched when a poem was read? When a story was told? Art is a matter of the heart! It is spiritual, maybe even divine, or prophetic.  For art often contains a message to us.  It is not merely entertainment, it has soul!

I like to express my appreciation to the artists of our nation, for oftentimes artists are under-appreciated and underpaid.  They often are not understood and therefore rejected in their lifetime. Sometimes they are seen as eccentric people that just do not fit in. And the work of artists is many a time much more appreciated long after they have died. Mozart was buried in a poor man’s grave. The works of Van Gogh are auctioned off for millions today, while poor Vincent pined away in an “Insane Asylum”.

Not only artists are people of the soul. Foster parents are also people that are deeply touched, emotionally moved. Taking a rejected, neglected or abused child into your home requires “soul”.  This too is not just a matter of being skilled at parenting; it’s not just being trained in pedagogy.  It is not just providing a safe and healthy place for a needy child. To truly succeed as a foster parent one must be moved with compassion and then act out of love. If we give all we possess to a poor child, and sacrifice something of ourselves, but doing that without love, we gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind, it is not rude, it is not self-seeking, and it is not easily angered.  It always protects, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails. Taking care of a child is also a matter of the heart.  To love is divine.

Especially the aspects of love that are perseverance and patience are vital. Most children that need foster care have suffered enormously.  Many have not been brought up well.  Foster parents will often encounter problem behaviour. Dealing with deeply wounded people is difficult. Therefore our center for foster families “Mi Otro Kas” provides assistance and regular training to foster parents, who are willing to love. 

At this time there are one hundred and twenty five foster families.  And these families are deeply cherished and appreciated. “Mi Otro Kas” is desperately in need of more people that are people of the soul, people of love, who are willing to give of themselves, almost for nothing, to care and protect a child.  To show them that there are people who do not abuse, that there are safe families, and that there are some adults that can be trusted. Thank you to all those who will love a child.

Let’s raise a glass to a happy and healthy 2010!

Laga nos brinda pa un aña 2010 felis i salú!

Laten wij nu het glas heffen op een gelukkig en gezond 2010!