In the not too distant past I spoke at a correctional institution for girls ages 12 – 17. One of the little girls had a slight, petite frame and hardly looked twelve. The most striking thing about her was that she had perhaps the saddest eyes of anyone I’ve ever seen. When I spoke I asked if any of them had lost hope and she raised her hand.
I had to fight back tears.
I spoke for a while about how I’d managed to overcome the adversity in my life and told them not to lose hope or give up, because God loved them very much and would never give up on any of them. Throughout my talk it was difficult to concentrate because I kept noticing how utterly sad this beautiful little girl looked.
At the conclusion of my talk I mentioned that if anyone wanted to pray with me to come down front and this little girl was among the first to make that journey. She told me that she’d already accepted Christ as her Savior a few weeks back when the same prison ministry group that invited me was there.
I asked. “Well what would you like to pray about honey?” She answered that she wanted me to pray for her and ask God to keep her strong when she got out and change her life like he’d changed mine so she wouldn’t have to come back to this place ever again.
This time I was unsuccessful in holding back the tears and so was she.
She put her soft petite little hands in mine and we prayed together and I’ve been praying for her ever since, and ask that you to do the same. It’s hard to imagine what this tiny little girl could have possibly done to end up serving time in a correctional institution. I rarely ask anyone why they are incarcerated and I didn’t ask her. She told me she’d already served six months.
Sigh . . . My grandchildren are about the same age, size, and have similar beautiful expressive eyes; however they are all smiles. They are doing great in school, have tons of friends, and most important parents, siblings, (and grandparents), who deeply love them.
We start out simple and humble, as little children, and willing to be the least of all. How we end up is often the result of what we see and learn from those who have been given authority over us, and from others with whom we come into contact as we grow older. I believe that there are grave consequences for ignoring our responsibility towards children especially in providing a home filled with love.
In Matthew 18:5 Jesus said: “And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me”. He also said in Matthew 18:6: “But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”
Parents should take note. The number one reason that kids don’t succeed is not because they are simply born wild, but because their parents don’t love them as they should. If you take a Labrador retriever pup and all of its life treat him like a beloved member of the family, lavish him with praise, and give him treats when he does well, and “lovingly” discipline him when he doesn’t, the only danger he might pose to society is to lick someone too much.
Take that same pup, chain him up, scream at him, and beat him at every opportunity and he will turn into a vicious monster. Too many kids worldwide are being subjected to just that.
Today I’m meeting with some very powerful people in Washington D.C. and we are trying to find a way to reduce human trafficking, particularly sex trafficking of innocent children like that little girl. She is a prime candidate for the predators in the world who seek out children whose family life is awful. Please pray for my mission today and ask the Lord to help us find a way to help them.
BTW – Last night I finished my last chemo treatment. Praise God! Many thanks for your prayers. The doctor says I am completely healed and not a trace of this deadly disease remains in my body.
Matt. 19:14
But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.”
December 7, 2015 – Click here to listen