Let the Little Children Come

Okay, so I know I just wrote a blog yesterday(that no one read,ha!) but here are some thoughts from my day today...

Some kids have to grow up too fast...
In my profession, you think I would have already come to terms with this reality, but I have not. Some children due to such harsh life circumstances, are forced to grow up too fast. My morning began with this reality. On the radio this morning, Kidd Kraddick(yes I still listen to him) was talking about how children even with terminal illnesses are required to grow up a little faster due to their incredible medical knowledge and such trying life experiences. Later today, at my internship, that radio thought was played out in real life. I am working with some kids "groups" with one of the school counselors. The groups I attended today were a divorce group and a grief group. Divorce...Grief...sound like grown-up problems to me!-but for the kids today, and the majority of others these problems are their childhood reality. Kids having to be "ping-ponged" between mom and dad, kids whose parents have suffered through cancer, kids that saw their daddy kill their mommy...heart-breaking...
They are just kids...babies. So, yes I once again had a reality check today, but I was also strengthened by the strength these kids showed me. It is rare today to find a kid who has not had to grow up too fast. As I think about not only the innocence of children, but the profound strength they hold as well, I can not help but think about Jesus and how He said "Let the Little Children Come to Me..." As "grown-ups," we think that Jesus' arms are justly reserved for our problems, our needs, our broken hearts, and our worries. But I think Jesus was and is extremely aware of the kids that were also handling pain, but they were handling the same pain as the grown-ups only they are kids...
So I am in prayer for the kids...some by name...and others as "kids". I know that they teach us so many lessons through their struggles, and I know that all kids-all humans-face pain. I want to enable them to see the arms of Jesus, looking past the "important people" and calling out for the kids. And even in the public school setting,(when I couldn't press the issue) I could see so many of these precious children running towards His arms. I am also in prayer for those that work with closely with these children...I pray that we may witness through are actions and may lead them to the Father.
I am not even a social worker dealing with CPS, abuse, or the cruelest of cruels...and I know we have all seen the struggles of a child-no matter our profession. I challenge us to enable them to hear Jesus calling the little children, and I also challenge us all to become like the little children as well...
May God bless them:)