A Splash of Love….

Has anyone observed that, for once, very young children are the most protected in this COVID-19 crisis? So far,  not one death. Not one. I pray that protection continues.

Study involving children under 9 who fell ill to COVID-19

Children aren’t at great risk, WHO SAYS.

With my work I see the most vulnerable as those in the early years before they (some) can express themselves well or even have words to speak to the atrocities they suffer. This continues into the teens, but is more severe in younger. I see adults brush off their suffering — especially when that child is grown, but even before — as though sexual abuse and domestic violence are nothing more than a mere ‘test from God’ that simply requires ‘forgiveness’ — falsely so called. Religious institutions have done shamefully at protecting them. Let’s be honest about that. Protecting children is too often replaced with ‘trust’ for ‘repentant’ adults and the children remain vulnerable and continue to face abuse. Some, not wanting to go through the experience of being scolded or not cared for, sometimes conclude it is better to lie since ‘no one cares anyway’. If asked whether abuse is continuing, they will say ‘no’, just to avoid that experience. So the parents/adults are happy because the abuse has ‘stopped’ and the abuser is happy because he/she has a good reputation and is restored in the church/community. And the child lives through hell.

It seems no one cares. It seems the children are not protected.

So it makes my heart especially happy that not one child under age 9 has died. Some have fallen ill. At least one has been treated in hospital. But *not one*…. not even one, has died. The children are protected. And I say “Praise God! Praise Jesus!” For once, the littlest ones among us are the most protected. So far doctors and scientists can’t explain it (based on most recent documents I’ve read). I can’t either.

My mind wanders to Matthew 18, where Jesus makes it clear that children are valued and anyone who harms them would be better off tossed in the sea with a millstone about the neck. So, yes, children matter to God. They are not always protected from harm at the hands of evildoers, nor from the impact of disease. But at a time when sexual abuse is coming to light everywhere, and the unborn are being aborted, it is a delight to see children protected. 

My intent is not to make bold prophetic connections, or wax all political or judgemental. If it is judgement, I’ll leave it to God to make His point. (In which case if His anger is anything close to what I imagine, at the neglect of children, this is but the beginning of what is coming). I do not even wish to speculate that this is the case. It could be. Or maybe not. Making bold prophetic proclamations like that is not my role.

My intent is simply to say, “I noticed that the littlest among us are protected the most.” And it makes my heart so happy. Because in my line of work, prioritizing wellbeing of children is too often neglected. That’s all. Nothing more profound or bold than that.

For days I’ve been thinking about this. Privately I have said it. What has kept me from posting is the potential backlash. People may read deeper than what I’m not trying to say, or create their own ‘revelations’ and prophesies as to the why and wherefore of it all and either cheer for me or wish to stone me.  And, while those prophesies and revelations could be interesting, I haven’t the time to manage big conversations. I’m in the middle of my final major assignment, so I pop on FB to check in on a group or two and respond to a message or two, but I don’t spend a lot of time there.

Nonetheless, I am posting these thoughts, and will say in advance that I may or may not agree with analysis of prophetic meaning that are applied. (Which doesn’t mean I’m right and they’re wrong. It simply means I don’t see it). But I am just very happy to see the wellbeing of children so profoundly stated to the baffle of science. 

In closing, “Jesus loves the little children”. In a world that has neglected them, where sin has attacked their little bodies by evildoers, too often in the guise of religion… in that world, Jesus loves the little children. We do well to be reminded of it.

If you have been abused, God has not forgotten you. He has not overlooked the abuse further heaped on you by religious institutions you reached out to for help. He is a God who metes out justice, with mercy for the truly repentant, not based on church membership, or which denomination or strain thereof. He is a God who sees. He sees the abuses you suffer and have suffered… some in His name. And His heart is moved with compassion. He sees you.  And He looks upon you with great affection and compassion. If you are suffering horrendous things, or have in the past, and you have not been heard or loved with compassion in that suffering, know that your suffering breaks His heart. It broke His body too. And always remember…

… He is especially fond of you. 

As always…

Love,
~ T ~