a framework for action

Our first week of the Children at Risk school has already stirred up many things inside of me. Our speaker this week was Janna Moats who works with the Women & Children's Advocacy centre. She talked to us about, “why we are here” and explained some of the many risks that children face today as well as shared what God’s heart is for children. 

There were a few (ok a lot) of ideas that challenged me. One of the things that stood out to me was when she spoke on, “The Child in the Middle” which explains God’s intentions for a child to be supported and brought up. 

So often we (the church, government) do things for a child thinking it is in their best interest when actually it may not be, because it is not God’s initial plans for the child. I was a little surprised when Janna told us her opinion on orphanages. I guess I always thought they were doing beneficial things, but had never done research on the effects. She told us that God created children to be a part of a family and to be cared for by their parents. It’s interesting to think about how many kids are taken from their homes because of dangerous situations and how many are actually orphans with no one else to take care of them.  The majority of kids have homes/people to take care of them but someone decided it would be better to take them elsewhere.  Of course there are situations when the child should be taken from the family, but when the issue is poverty (which it usually is) the government/organization could come alongside the parents on behalf of the child and possibly help them learn a trade in order to be able to fix the problem and restore the family.

 Why aren’t more organizations doing that? 

Why do we assume that the child shouldn’t be with their family so they will have their physical needs met while the parents (who provides all the emotional needs/unconditional love) are stuck not able to dig themselves out?

 Asking what does the child need/what is in the best interest for them is challenging for me to think about when offering help.  I find myself wanting to help people the way I think is best. However it may not be what God wants, what they want, or what they need. So often we think our ways are best, but we need to help people the way they need help.

 I am so excited to see what awesome things I am going to learn in this school. I know that it is really going to challenge my relationship with God, as well as just how I live my life!