Children....

Children....

Last year I picked up a book in Australia, "follow the rabbit-proof fence".

A true story about three girls, taken from their home in northwestern Australia, Transported the southwestern Australia to go to school  by "well meaning " government officials because of their mixed race..they would be "better off" in a new environment...
They eventually walked back to their home, alone through the desert and hazards of Western Australia.

Everyday, the news tells of children,doing extraordinary things, crossing our southern border, child slave trade, catching a ride in the wheel well of a plane, saving a parent, being abused/killed by a parent....children....small innocent children...used, abused, torn from parents, for various reasons....

History recalls story after story, sacrificed to idols in the Old Testament, new testament killing of children,  used for experiments in World War 2, put into horrible orphanages in the 80's and 90's in Romania, starved in Africa, abortion, and it goes on and on....

Our family had foster children in the 1980's...babies through 5 year olds...placed in our home for a variety of reasons...one  baby traded for a car, parent's custody battles, starvation, abandonment at the child services office, neglect, drugs, the economy ....each had a story...later we were close to families who cared for meth babies, born to mothers who used meth during their pregnancies, brain damaged children because of their mother's lifestyle...

Innocence....of a child...dependence on parents to love and care for them...God forms them for our care, protection, love, nurture, upbringing.......thank YOU for the opportunity to be a parent to the children You have so graciously given...help them In turn to nurture those you have given them....whether in family, friends, ministry....

Psalm 34:11 Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

Psalm 37:26 They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be a blessing.

Psalm 72:4 May he defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; may he crush the oppressor.

Psalm 103:13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;

Psalm 127:3 Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.

Matthew 18:2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them.

Matthew 18:5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

Matthew 19:13 [ The Little Children and Jesus ] Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them.
Matthew 19:14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”