We Pray for Children

As a mom and sponsor of not enough children, this poem touched my heart. I hope it will yours as well:

"We Pray for Children" by Ina J. Hughs

We pray for children who sneak popsicles before supper,
who erase holes in math workbooks,
who can never find their shoes. 

And we pray,
for those who stare at photographers from behind barbed wire,
who can't bound down the street in a new pair of sneakers,
who never "counted potatoes,"
who are born in places where we wouldn't be caught dead,
who never go to the circus, who live in an X-rated world. 

Ethiopian children behind barbed wire

We pray for children who bring us sticky kisses and fistfuls of dandelions,
Who sleep with the cat and bury goldfish,
Who hug us in a hurry and forget their lunch money,
Who squeeze toothpaste all over the sink,
Who slurp their soup.

Well worn stuffed hippos, "Hip Hip" and "Happy"

And we pray for those who never get dessert,
who have no safe blanket to drag behind them,
who watch their parents watch them die,
who can't find any bread to steal,
who don't have any rooms to clean up,
whose pictures aren't on anybody's dresser,
whose monsters are real. 

ICCM sponsored children eating rice

 We pray for children who spend all their allowance before Tuesday,
who throw tantrums in the grocery store and pick at their food,
who like ghost stories,
who shove dirty clothes under the bed, and never rinse out the tub,
who get visits from the tooth fairy,
who don't like to be kissed in front of the carpool,
who squirm in church or temple and scream in the phone,
whose tears we sometimes laugh at and whose smiles can make us cry. 

Little girl jumping into the water

And we pray for those whose nightmares come in the daytime,
who will eat anything,
who have never seen a dentist,
who aren't spoiled by anybody,
who go to bed hungry and cry themselves to sleep,
who live and move, but have no being. 

Smiling Ethiopian girl

We pray for children who want to be carried and for those who must,
for those we never give up on and for those who don't get a second chance.

For those we smother…and for those who will grab the hand of anybody kind enough to offer it. 

We pray for children. Amen

This poem was shared in a newsletter from International Childcare Ministries (ICCM), www.childcareministries.org. They also get credit for the beautiful black and white images above.  ICCM advocates for the spiritual, educational, physical, and social development of children by partnering with the global Free Methodist Church through sponsorships, scholarships and creative initiatives. May God continue to bless their work, and the work of similar organizations seeking to share His love with those He loves so much!

On a side note, if you've ever wondered if child sponsorship really works, check out this groundbreaking study http://www.christianitytoday.com/ In case you don't have time to read the whole article, the short answer can be summed up in one glorious word: YES!!!! With God's help, we can change the world one child at a time! If you have questions about child sponsorship, I'm not an expert, but would be happy to share our personal experience, answer what I can, and get you pointed in the right direction.

I hope that you'll join me today in praying for children today: those God has put in our lives and in our homes, and those we may never meet this side of heaven, but need our prayers, love and support. 

Credit for color photos, Chad Olson