I got this email this morning ... Good timing!
Yesterday was a tough day for me. I volunteer with teenagers who have been abused and most days with the kids are interesting. Yesterday was down right awful. One of the cases came to court and because of a loop hole in the law, the children were returned to the people who abused and neglected them ...
I think the judge was disgusted with the way the case had been handled by the Department of Social Services (Child Protective Services) so he sent the kids back to "punish" DSS ... He sure showed them, didn't he?
I don't always agree with the system. It's not a perfect system by any means, but it's the only system we have. There is no alternative. The lawyers want to "take down" DSS, accusing them and any of us "do-gooders" (as one of the lawyers called us) as having an "agenda". Some lawyers will say anything. I believe the child molesters are the ones with an "agenda" ...
I cautioned the attorneys yesterday not to burn down a house (the current child protective system) until and unless we have another one to house the many children who really need the system.
I cautioned the attorneys yesterday not to burn down a house (the current child protective system) until and unless we have another one to house the many children who really need the system.
People tell me that I am wonderful to take time to help kids but it's not me that is wonderful ... It's the kids I meet. They might learn from me but I learn so much more from them!
The kids taught me about courage. The kids taught me about healing and bouncing back. Sure they are angry. Of course they are hurt ... but kids have an almost magical way of not staying anywhere for very long ... They have had rotten things happen in their young lives and yet, they find a way to move on. Some of them are almost philosophical about what they have been through.
I suppose an expert could give me a psychological explanation for why some kids do better than others ... I haven't discovered a pattern, rhyme or a reason to what happens or what happens next ... but each one of these kids are like precious jewels that have been dragged through the mud. Some are more covered than others, but every one of them has a part of them that still shines!
I am not privy to the inner workings of every child's heart and don't have to be to know that there is a gem in there. There might be a lot of mud ... but mud is just mud. It can't diminish the gem.
I suppose an expert could give me a psychological explanation for why some kids do better than others ... I haven't discovered a pattern, rhyme or a reason to what happens or what happens next ... but each one of these kids are like precious jewels that have been dragged through the mud. Some are more covered than others, but every one of them has a part of them that still shines!
I am not privy to the inner workings of every child's heart and don't have to be to know that there is a gem in there. There might be a lot of mud ... but mud is just mud. It can't diminish the gem.
When it comes to our kids in court, I am not good at losing, and I hope I never am. The kids need as many wins as the Judges will dish out.
This story reminded me of the messes we all make ... and the wonderful hope that all messes can be cleaned up with a little love ... the messes the parents make ... the messes the kids might make ... the messes the system might make ... the messes the lawyers make ... the messes the Judges make ... and the messes I make!
Real love goes a long way ... and some of us have love that will go the distance ...
Real love goes a long way ... and some of us have love that will go the distance ...
Making pancakes
Six -year-old Brandon decided one Saturday morning to fix his parents pancakes. He found a big bowl and spoon, pulled a chair to the counter, opened the cupboard and pulled out the heavy flour canister, spilling it on the floor.
He scooped some of the flour into the bowl with his hands, mixed in most of a cup of milk and added some sugar, leaving a floury trail on the floor which by now had a few tracks left by his kitten.
Brandon was covered with flour and getting frustrated. He wanted this to be something very good for Mom and Dad, but it was getting very bad.
He didn't know what to do next, whether to put it all into the oven or on the stove and he didn't know how the stove worked! Suddenly he saw his kitten licking from the bowl of mix and reached to push her away, knocking the egg carton to the floor. Frantically he tried to clean up this monumental mess but slipped on the eggs, getting his pajamas white and sticky.
And just then he saw Dad standing at the door. Big crocodile tears welled up in Brandon's eyes. All he'd wanted to do was something good, but he'd made a terrible mess. He was sure a scolding was coming, maybe even a spanking. But his father just watched him.
Then, walking through the mess, he picked up his crying son, hugged him and loved him, getting his own pajamas white and sticky in the process!
That's how God deals with us! We try to do something good in life, but it turns into a mess. Our marriage gets all sticky or we insult a friend, or we can't stand our job, or our health goes sour. Sometimes we just stand there in tears because we can't think of anything else to do. That's when God picks us up and loves us and forgives us, even though some of our mess gets all over Him.
But just because we might mess up, we can't stop trying to "make pancakes" for God or for others. Sooner or later we'll get it right, and then they'll be glad we tried...
I was thinking. and I wondered if I had any wounds needing to be healed, friendships that need rekindling or three words needing to be said, sometimes, "I love you" can heal & bless! Remind every one of your friends that you love them. Even if you think they don't love back, you would be amazed at what those three little words, a smile, and a reminder like this can do.
Just in case I haven't told you lately ... I LOVE YOU!!!
Six -year-old Brandon decided one Saturday morning to fix his parents pancakes. He found a big bowl and spoon, pulled a chair to the counter, opened the cupboard and pulled out the heavy flour canister, spilling it on the floor.
He scooped some of the flour into the bowl with his hands, mixed in most of a cup of milk and added some sugar, leaving a floury trail on the floor which by now had a few tracks left by his kitten.
Brandon was covered with flour and getting frustrated. He wanted this to be something very good for Mom and Dad, but it was getting very bad.
He didn't know what to do next, whether to put it all into the oven or on the stove and he didn't know how the stove worked! Suddenly he saw his kitten licking from the bowl of mix and reached to push her away, knocking the egg carton to the floor. Frantically he tried to clean up this monumental mess but slipped on the eggs, getting his pajamas white and sticky.
And just then he saw Dad standing at the door. Big crocodile tears welled up in Brandon's eyes. All he'd wanted to do was something good, but he'd made a terrible mess. He was sure a scolding was coming, maybe even a spanking. But his father just watched him.
Then, walking through the mess, he picked up his crying son, hugged him and loved him, getting his own pajamas white and sticky in the process!
That's how God deals with us! We try to do something good in life, but it turns into a mess. Our marriage gets all sticky or we insult a friend, or we can't stand our job, or our health goes sour. Sometimes we just stand there in tears because we can't think of anything else to do. That's when God picks us up and loves us and forgives us, even though some of our mess gets all over Him.
But just because we might mess up, we can't stop trying to "make pancakes" for God or for others. Sooner or later we'll get it right, and then they'll be glad we tried...
I was thinking. and I wondered if I had any wounds needing to be healed, friendships that need rekindling or three words needing to be said, sometimes, "I love you" can heal & bless! Remind every one of your friends that you love them. Even if you think they don't love back, you would be amazed at what those three little words, a smile, and a reminder like this can do.
Just in case I haven't told you lately ... I LOVE YOU!!!
I can say that again for me! I LOVE YOU!!!
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