For those of us that work with hurting children, another year has come to pass and hopefully we have made a difference. I have been thinking about the children the Lord has placed in my path to minister to this past year. There were some happy and joyful times, and there were some very sad and difficult times. I think about the children whose mom committed suicide and the kids whose dad died in an auto accident. I also think about the children of divorce. There were so many of them.
I know though that all of us that work with children have the richest job on the planet. We get the pleasure of ministering to the innocent children that have an innate desire to love the Lord.
“I love Jesus with my whole heart, all of it.”
She says as she is drawing a picture of a heart.
We get to spend time with the little people that really want to believe in our Lord.
“You mean God really answers our prayers? He really does hear us?”
A little bright eyed girl says as she hears about how one leader got a job after we had prayed for her to get a job for thirteen weeks.
We get to be influenced by the population of people that are pure in heart.
“I think about Jesus all day long everyday!”
The child says as he is finger painting.
Even in the Bible when others didn’t believe, the children believed.
But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant, [Matthew 21:15 ESV]
However, the children pay the price for adult decisions and for the mistakes adults in their world make.
“As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace–but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls.” Luke 20:41-44 (NIV)
We know the children are paying the price because we wipe the tears.
“But why did Grandma Sue die?”
We hold the hurting.
“Why didn’t my dad come and pick me up this weekend? I was waiting for him. It was his weekend!”
We soothe the aching hearts.
“Put your hand on your chest where it hurts.”
And the child puts his folded hands over his heart and says,
“Right here! It hurts right here!”
We also get to rejoice when they rejoice. Sing when they sing. We share the,
“It’s really not my fault!”
moments when they realize their parent’s divorce is an adult decision. Dance and twirl when they dance and twirl. Laugh when they laugh and praise the Almighty when they praise Him.
“From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise…” Psalm 8:2 (NIV)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Linda Ranson Jacobs is one of the forefront leaders in the area of children and divorce. She developed and created the DivorceCare for Kids programs. DC4K is an international program for churches to use to help children of divorced parents find healing within the arms of a loving church family. As a speaker, author, trainer, program developer and child care center owner, Linda has assisted countless families by modeling and acting on the healing love she has found in Jesus Christ. More great articles about how to successfully minister to the child of divorce in your church can be found at Linda’s website Healthy Loving Partnerships for Our Kids (HLP4) [http://www.hlp4.com]. Linda also offers support, encouragement, and suggestions to help single parents and those working with single parent children. She can be reached by e-mail at Linda@hlp4.com.