I rejoice in the love of my Savior Jesus Christ yet my heart is heavy.
This burden on my heart is for the children I am blessed to work with each day at our school.
Here's the short version . . . our community is by no means a wealthy community. Our school is full of children with many needs. However, there are several children that have absolutely captured my heart and fill my prayers.
There are four children within our school - two are sisters, two are brother and sister and then there is the other boy. Three families living in one run down old house. 13 children in all living together. There is reason to believe the adults are into drugs and possibly prostitution. The kids come to school dirty, often smelling as if they have not had a bath in days. Thier clothes are pitiful and desperately needing to be washed. Several churches and other organizations in the area bought new clothes, shoes and coats for all the children at Christmas and provided groceries along with a special holiday meal. It is rumored that the shoes and coats were sold. There is no proof other than none of the children have been seen wearing any of the new items.
Authorities have been called - repeatedly. Reports have been filed - you name it - it's been done. But, no action has been taken. One of the kids came to school with still bleeding wounds from a bicycle wreck the day before - no one bothered to clean or bandage his wounds. His teacher did it - the next morning.
I desperately want to scoop these children up and bring them home with me. I want to give them a bath, dress them in decent clothes, give them a hearty meal and a clean bed. I want to love on them and let them know that someone really cares. But, I can't do that. So, I love on them as much as the law will allow while I'm in the classroom.
Now, those of you who have worked in the public school system much longer than I might have developed a tolerance for this type of situation. I beg you to let down your guard and let your heart ache for these kids. Love them like Jesus. Lift them up in prayer - intercede on thier behalf. If we, as children of God, do not, then who?
In Matthew 25:40, Jesus says, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."
The law might limit what I can do physically for these children - but it can not limit how much I can pray for them.
Keep them in your prayers. An old song keeps going through my mind - some of you might remember it.
Bless the Beasts and the Children
For in this world
They have no voice
They have no choice.
Maybe they don't have a choice right now - but if they can begin to see the love of Jesus, then they will have choices they have never dreamed of.
Keep them in your prayers, siestas. Together, we can be thier voice.
God bless you.
1 comment:
This subject keeps me awake at night. It is so difficult to know that children are being neglected. Or worse. We plan to adopt or foster older children someday (soon, I hope).
My mother is an elementary school counselor and prayer is the only thing that keeps her from total despair, some days. She does as much as is humanly possible, but she can't fix so many of the big problems in the little lives around her.
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