| WHO CARES? Copyright (c) 1999 Debi Gentry Joel wakes up and begins wandering through the house. Another day of struggle begins, a struggle he accepts as normal living. The television has been on all night and is still blaring away. The beer cans are on the coffee table as usual. He walks through the hallway and stares into his mother's bedroom. There she lies crashed out from her binge of the night before. |
| As the morning hours tick away he stumbles over to the ice box to find something to fill the void in his stomach. He pushes the beer cans aside and finally sees some applesauce. Up in the cupboard he spots some dry cereal. With applesauce in one hand and cereal in the other he wanders over to the messy table covered with empty beer cans. He finds space for his little bowl of cereal and eats his breakfast all alone. |
| One day will this little boy wonder about his lifestyle? Will he realize the sickness in his family? Will he understand that the roles were reversed. Instead of a mother caring for her child he was cast in the role of watching out for and worrying about his mother. It was not always this way. There were happier days when Joel woke up to find Mom and Dad smiling. A hearty breakfast was on the table and both encircled him with their love. There was concerned chatter. |
| "Did you and teddy bear have a good night's sleep?" "What's on your mind this morning?" "Is your agenda full for the day?" Talks at the breakfast table were full of warmth and caring. was truly worth waking up for, but all that seems so long ago. Many children today eke out an existence similar to Joel's. How Jesus' heart must ache as he sees these precious children scattering the beer cans to find a place to eat some decent food, if it's available. Mother's and father's have abdicated their responsibility to care for their children and tried to drown their problems and sorrows with alcohol. |
| If only they could drink at the fountain that Jesus talked about to the Samaritan woman. They would find the water of life--the love of our Saviour, and they would never thirst for the drink that drowns them. They would drink to life in all its fullness. They could impart love, joy, and happiness to their children. But many are not yet convicted and their little ones cry out for attention. Do we take the time to relate to these children? A pat on the head, a question about their school, a simple remark about how nice they look or a glad-to-see-you statement can mean a lot to any child. One who is struggling desperately needs to feel the light of God's love in our eyes. In spite of fears about strangers a warm, loving smile may change a child's day. |
| Opportunities abound at church, in our neighborhoods, at the supermarket, or wherever we meet children to brighten their lives. Also there are opportunities to support projects such as National Camps for the Blind, International Children's Care or ProJect Patch with our Funds.* These organizations are changing the lives of children all over this country end the world and deserve our support. Jesus tells us "Whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me" (Matt. 18:5). |
| Here are the addresses for the organizations mentioned: International Children's Care, P. O. Box 4406, Vancouver, WA 98662-0406 National Camps for Blind Children, P. O. Box 6097, Lincoln, NE 68506 Project Patch, 13455 SE 97th Ave., Clackamas, OR 97015-9798 |
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