For All the Children Who Don’t Want to Go Home This Summer

I began Insights & Delights because I couldn’t limit myself to either the serious or the frivolous. I thought of naming it InsightFULL because the deeper part of me has lots of thoughts to fill up posts. However, there’s that other side of my brain that really, really, REALLY loves a break from thinking hard <smirk>. I think some of both keep us healthy in life. My first blogs have been on the lighter side–the delightful half–and I’ve had lots of fun putting them together. Still more is brewing about favorite childhood books, but I’m feeling pressed to interrupt those messages to share a topic that’s dear to me and that keeps tugging at my heart. I was reminded again recently about this topic when I pulled into our driveway after a mother-son date night with my best little big-man. . . .

Six-year-old Paxton and I arrived home from our date in time to see Calianne scurry back to the garage on his new Razor scooter.

Sensing a storm brewing, I got proactive. “Paxton, right now Cali’s feeling nervous that she’s about to get hollered at–”

“But Mom, that’s MY scooter, and she didn’t ask! . . .” (You know the routine.)

“Buddy, she just wants to be like you and do the big-kid things you do. Look at her. She’s scared right now that she’ll get yelled at in a minute, and that doesn’t feel good to her. You have a chance to care for your little sister’s heart. Think about that before you say anything.”

I pulled into the garage, where my daughter waited with a sheepish grin. Before I could turn off the engine, Pax threw open his door: “CALI, THIS TIME I’M NOT GONNA HOLLER AT YOU FOR RIDING MY SCOOTER WITHOUT ASKING! BUT PLEASE ASK NEXT TIME!”

God bless that boy. If we can’t trust that our hearts will be cared for at home, where can we hope for that?

Summer has arrived, and most kids I know look forward to play-filled days and plenty of time to be themselves, to not have to be “on” for several hours a day at school. Yet my thoughts keep wandering to the host of other children who don’t yearn for the end of the school year, because June marks the removal of the safe buffer of the classroom. Home, which was designed to be a haven, can often be a place of heartache and tears, discouragement and rage, even terror–despite their parents or because of them. For those sweet ones who dread long, difficult days ahead, who aren’t allowed the simple freedom to let down their guard, who carry stress with them constantly and cover up what hurts . . .

To those children who need a break in life, know that I would love to hug you and fix everything for you. You have been on my mind, and I want you to know I’m praying for you all summer. I may not know your name, but your heavenly Father does, and he knows I’m talking to him specifically about precious YOU. Know that he hears, and he loves you more than you could possibly know. AND he has wonderful plans for you if you’ll ask him to show you who he wants to be in your life. . . .

Lord, you see all and know every secret hurt, every wrong done that may never get justice on earth. You long for these young souls to know your perfect healing love that transcends the mess we have made of this earth, the mess that costs them so much. Yet you are still Lord of their moments, Conqueror over their abusers, Rest for their weariness, Fulfillment for their worn-out hopes. You are Identity for those who have never felt meaningful, Security for the fearful, Rescuer of the lost. Be You for them each moment this summer; make yourself so real to them that their lives are transformed from within even as they wait for healthy change around them. Send your strongest warriors to thwart their enemies, flood their environments with your Holy Spirit, build a fortress around them, a hedge of protection from what and who they fear. 

Show them yourself very personally, and cast away all doubts as to their worth in you. Open the eyes of protecting adults around them, that their wounds may catch the attention of those who will help. Move helpers’ hearts to action, and banish all instincts of ambivalence from those of us who must act on their behalf. Do not let us remain immobile when others need us to be the ones to make the difference for them.

Transform lives this summer, Lord. You are the one to do it. Impress on us that we are the ones to help. Give us the vision of your glorious throne room and the immediate action that happens there in response to our prayers. Save and save again, and then save some more. And move us to be Jesus’ hands and feet to those precious young hearts who need you.

Heavenly Father and healing Savior, bring beauty from ashes (Isaiah 61:3) and repay the years the locusts have eaten (Joel 2:25). Impress this promise onto each of their hearts, and prove it true in their lives:

“For the Lord your God is living among you.
    He is a mighty savior.
He will take delight in you with gladness.
    With his love, he will calm all your fears.
    He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” (Zephaniah 3:17, NLT)

Come Lord Jesus, this summer, to the young ones who need you.