be the change

Look at these babies. They are SO loved, and they know it. To give love, one must be shown love. Our main parenting goal is raising children who love God with all their heart, soul, and mind, and secondly, love others, even as they love themselves. 

They don't know how blessed they are to live in a loving home with two loving parents who only want the best for them. Friends and families that love them, teachers who love them, and a big church family who love them too. For them, home is safe, secure, and stable. It's always right here with Mommy and Daddy. It's a happy place. And they know that.

Some children are far less fortunate. Some children know no love, no safe place, no stability. Some children's homes are abusive, and sometimes, that's all some children know. Some children are far from safe with the very people they love the most. As a teacher, I have a passion for children. Not every day is a piece of cake, but one thing is always constant. With my calling came a love for children that I will not ignore.

Recently, for the first time in my life I saw a child be abused. The where, when, or why it happened is not relevant. Names are not relevant. The thing is, it happened. Right there in front of my own eyes. It was unreal and my thoughts were chaotic. I witnessed her hit, punch him, and stomp his feet. She slung him around in a demon-like fashion. His big, brown, three-year-old eyes couldn't comprehend what he had done, but at the same time, he made no sound, no whimper.

My heart sunk. 

Sadly, I knew it was because this is all he knew. This was his normal. I approached them. I tried to talk to him and I reached out my hand and rubbed his back. She cut her eyes at me and snapped, "Don't you touch him!" and I told her I would pray for whatever the situation was. She said words that put a chill down my spine: "Don't pray for me. Pray for HIM. He will need your prayers when he gets home."

People. Child abuse is real. As a matter of fact, it is not only physically and emotionally damaging, but psychologically as well. I did a little research after the incident and found that "About 80% of 21-year-olds who were abused as children met criteria for at least one psychological disorder." -From dosomething.org

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. As much as I want my blog to be totally positive and uplifting, I cannot ignore what I saw, and I feel compelled to share it with you all because even if one person becomes empowered to speak up for a sake of a child, it is so worth it. This doesn't mean you have to go out looking for a child abuse case to help intervene with. It is simply a month to acknowledge the importance of families and communities working together to be advocates for all children. If you see it, don't ignore it. Ever. No child deserves abuse, under any circumstances. To find out more about National Child Abuse Prevention Month, click here.

Most importantly, pray. Pray for the lives of all these children. My God is greater!