I love children. I love their toothless smiles, their contagious laughter, their endless energy, their unconditional love, their excitement, their joy, their childlike faith, and most of all their innocence.
Why does that laughter have to stop? Why does that love change? Why does that excitement fizzle? But most of all…..why is that innocence taken away from them?
Today at devotions Manna told us about a little girl who is being sexually abused. It is the second child in the past month that she is aware of that this abuse is a reality. These little girls are no more than 3 or 4 years old. They attend school at the preschools that we have been visiting over the past few weeks. Preschools run by Step Ahead which were open shortly after the tsunami. We have enjoyed spending time with these children and to hear that this is happening to these little girls that we play with hurts so deeply. It goes straight to my heart….and breaks it.
So this morning we spent time traveling to and praying for these schools. Praying for these head teachers, that they would have wisdom in dealing with these situations. Praying for the other teachers, the majority of whom are not christians. Praying for these children that the abuse would stop. Praying that these schools would be a place of healing. Praying that satan would no longer have a hold in these communities, that the Truth would be spread.
As I sat there this morning praying for these schools and these children I became mad. Mad that God allows these things to happen. Angry that these children have to lose their innocence, their joy and excitement…….But then I just sat and listened. I began to hear Him speak…….Do you not know I love them too. They are MY children. I have created them and made them in my image. I know that this hurts you and you feel for them and your heart breaks for them, but my heart hurts even more, my heart weeps for 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.”
I dont know, I don’t have the answers to any of this. All I know is that through it all God is still God and one day this world will return to its right state. This world is in a fallen state. Sin entered this world through mankind through its pride and greed and desire to be like God. As a result sin is present in this world.
The biggest thing the Lord has been teaching me so far is releasing control. I have no control in life, the Lord has shown me that. I cant help friends back home that are struggling, I cant control my life after this race, I cant control other people and I cant control what happens to these children. The only thing that I can control is what I do in response to these hurts and feelings. Prayer is the only control I have in any of this. it has been a hard thing to learn but as I have been spending more and more time in prayer I am filled with more and more peace knowing that I have released control and knowing that it is all in the hands of God…….my God who knows best in ALL situations. And with this I am cool and can peacefully rest.
Until Next Time
Annalisa
