It’s Always the Kids
I had to restrain myself!
When I drove past the children’s home and saw a news truck, reporter, and camera focused inside the grounds, I had to make myself keep driving. My instinct was to pull over and park my old Tahoe in front of the camera and block their view.
I guess I’m old enough to have seen enough wars, political maneuvers, famines, and idealistic religious movements to know that the children always suffer first, longest, and worst when things go wrong in our world. This time, all the media fuss was over a number of children arriving at a children’s home. These children had been removed by Texas Child Protective Services from the YFZ polygamist sect in Eldorado — CNN has several stories on this and I’ll link you to them because they do not talk about our situation.
I’ll leave it for someone else who knows the firsthand facts to wade through all the DNA evidence, charges of child abuse, pre-teen forced marriage, polygamy and other details about charges. Regardless of the merits or the facts in this case, the children are caught in the middle. Their world, their sense of security, their understanding of family, and their sense of safety have all been turned upside down and sideways. They’ve been taken from the homes they knew to places they had never seen and asked to mesh into families they have never known.
To me, it seemed like a huge intrusion of privacy and safety for a news station to show footage of their arrival on the evening news — even though it was grainy and taken at a great distance. In addition, this media exposure is a potential risk of safety of those who give foster care and other children in foster care with those families. While I am all about public openness in government in most situations, the care of children should trump everything else.
So this leads me to one question and one request:
- Do you think I’m being too hard-headed about this, or do you agree that we don’t sufficiently protect children caught in the middle of adult messes?
- Would you please pray for these displaced children, those with whom they share homes for awhile, their mothers from whom they are separated, and those who offer them foster care?
In a few hours from now — it’s late Friday night — I will be leaving for a board meeting for a children’s home. I will be with people whose lives are dedicated to caring for babies, adoptive parents, and moms wanting to find stable and loving homes for their babies. So children are on my heart this weekend. I hope and pray they are on your heart, as well.
I agree with you, Phil. We don’t protect children sufficiently caught in adult messes — and the situation you are referring to is definitely a mess. I am not qualified nor adequately informed enough to judge any one in this situation, but my heart goes out to those precious children. Stability, safety & security are so important in a child’s formative years & being taken away from what they know as stable, safe & secure will leave a lifelong imprint on their lives. May God bless these children, their parents & those caring for them.
B J Terrell
26 Apr 08 at 2:44 pm
Phil,
You are not alone in feeling the way you do. I find the lack of privacy, but more so the lack of the ability to actually “feel” within the media realm disgusting. It does not matter to the media that individuals are hurt as long as they get to be the first to report it. Not only this, but it just seems the media makes things worse with their constant reporting. I personally refuse to watch any news stations and rarely pick up a newspaper. Not only do I find myself in a negative state of mind once I watch or actually read the paper, I just feel like I am supporting their ill behavior.
Off the media soap box and on to your questions:
I think you are right on target about protecting children in these types of situations. This one in particular is such a hay-day for the media because of the situation surrounding their lives: they were born and raised in a polygamist way of life. For the morbid curiousity of most Americans it is a must see. Sad – but very true.
I will pray for these children and for the terrible array of reporters that push their way into people’s lives just to earn prestige.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Jennifer
27 Apr 08 at 2:14 am
Just can not imagine how a Mother feels except having children taken away except in death.
It has to be a terrible hurt for them and the children as well.
How are the children going to be good grown ups some day with all the commotion of being away in strange places.
I pray God will straighten out the mess and get the families back to a normal life.
God bless the little ones
Betty R Aikens
27 Apr 08 at 6:20 pm
Thank you! for raising awareness and presenting the call to action. In many scriptures God gives us a direct command to make special provisions and provide protection for the strangers, the widows, and the orphans in our community.
As a Guardian Ad Litem volunteer, I see on a regular basis the positive difference a safe, stable, disciplined, and nurturing home makes in a child’s life. Foster parents are my heroes!!!! And there is a tremendous need for CHRISTIAN foster parents.
And for those who aren’t currently able to share their home, there are many other opportunities to share our hearts and resources. There is a great need for Guardian Ad Litem/Child Advocacy volunteers, YMCA/school mentors, prayer warriors, etc. God will provide the opportunity to match our circumstances, if we’re willing to make ourselves available and answer His call.
So as April – Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month – comes to a close, Phil, I thank you for sharing your thoughts and presenting the call to prayer and the call to action in defending the fatherless. James 1:27
Vallarie Massey
28 Apr 08 at 12:17 pm