In The Hands of God

Today I decided to check out the Library here on campus.  I like Libraries and this one is big and full of interesting, new things.  They have shelf after shelf of books, of course, but they also have unique things such as a mummy, a bible belonging to Charles Spurgeon, and archives of old and rare books.  It’s old and very quiet. In fact, about three steps into the library I regretted wearing my old pick flip flops; comfortable, but so loud!  I tried to be quiet but it was useless, everyone heard me coming.

Eventually I made my way up to the third floor, I figured it would be less crowded than the other floors.  As I was browsing the shelves I came across some very interesting photographs hanging on the wall. They stood in suits with beards and funny mustaches; The 1886 faculty of Southern Seminary.  Several buildings on campus are named after them and surely they did great things in their lives. 

Looking at their pictures and thinking about the lives they lead got me thinking about the realities of life.  Southern Seminary is so good and so peaceful.  It is strange to go from this beautiful, peaceful place to the children’s home.  At the home it’s so chaotic, the kids miss behave and life is hard.  I am thankful that I here at Southern at the same time as I am working at the children’s home because there is no way I can forget the realities of our world.  Now don’t get me wrong, the Children’s home is a wonderful place with wonderful children who have been placed in bad situations.  It’s horrible that a place like the home has to exist, but wonderful that they are getting the help that they need.  True beauty, I believe, lies inside each of these kids and with patience and kindness it will show through. 

Every child at the home has been hurt in some way and without intervention, they will likely follow the natural pattern that their lives have taken.  Statistically, 90% of orphans worldwide (or children in state-mandated care as we would say in the United States) will end up as a victim of poverty, prostitution, or human trafficking.  I don’t feel adequate or ready to take on such a challenge, but I have to try.  To me, the number of kids in crisis like this is just not acceptable.  I can’t even stand the thought of it.  Something has to be done.  According to the Orphans Alliance (http://www.christianallianceblog.org/?p=74) there are approximately 145 million orphans in the world.  With some hard work and a lot of help from God I believe that we can help them. 

At the children’s home I have been assigned to work in an apartment with 10 preteen aged boys.  The kids are very cool but I was kind of hoping I would get younger kids since several of them are bigger than me.  But, I prayed that God would put me where I need to be and here I am.  I don’t have a clue how to minister to them but I’m going to try my best.  In times when I can’t handle caring for them, I know that God can.  My simple prayer must always be less of me and more of Him. 

One of my favorite songs is “Your Hands” by JJ Heller.  She sings “When my world is shaking, Heaven stands.  When my heart is breaking, I never leave your hands.”  This beautiful lyric speaks to me in so many ways.  When a kid is ‘acting out’ and I am struggling to keep them safe, God is as steady and as firm as ever.  I can trust Him to give me knowledge and keep us both calm and safe.  Also, He is a firm foundation for the children.  So many people in their lives have rejected them and let them down, but God is still there.  Even if they don’t recognize Him. 

God will also hold me in His hands when my hearting is breaking, and boy is my heart breaking for these kids!  They are so amazing and have been through so much at such a young age.  Can you imagine being unable to answer the question, “Where are you from?” because you’ve lived in so many places that you don’t remember anymore?  Or to have called 15 different women mom by age 8, and be rejected by each of them for one reason or another.  I don’t have a clue how a person, let alone a child, recovers from that, but I do know that they never leave God’s hands, and that through Him, they can be healed.