There has been so much going on, Father, that I have not taken time to sit and write. I have missed our time together. But I know You understand all the intricacies of everything and of course You have never left my side. Thank You, Father, for Your love and guidance. Amen.
Matthew 18:6-7 (<<click the green)
I’ve probably heard this somewhere but it is popping into my thoughts this morning: Children are like freshly poured cement.
This past week as I walked up to my doctor’s office I noticed that at some point the front portion of the sidewalk had been replaced. I was uniformly laid out by those who knew what they were doing. But…on the far left side, someone had left the impressions of their shoes when they had walked on it before it had totally hardened. Permanent impressions left because of someone’s ignorant…or deliberate…act.
Children are impressionable, as well. How the world interacts with them in their developmental years impacts them for the rest of their lives – with both positive…and negative…results.
Lord, as I sit here, my mind is aswirl with the many ways we influence children. As a father, I realize the struggle of striving to be a good parent. I also see where I was not the only one leaving an impression on my son – other family, teachers, fellow churchmen, friends, coaches, books, TV, music…and the list goes on and on, all have left the impression of their “shoes” on him.
And then my mind goes to those children who have been in abusive homes or neglectful homes. I can’t help but think of those exploited by pedophiles and the sex industry – those possibly taken from their loving families’ arms to fulfill some perverted fantasy.
Lord Jesus, I pray for all children today. Some things I can change. Some things I can impact. I can choose to leave my impression on them. But there are some I cannot reach – I pray for them, as well.
“What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting.” Matthew 18:7
July 21st, 2018, Sat, 5:45 am
