Saturday, January 26, 2013

Every Child Matters

Dr. Wess Stafford, President of Compassion International said, "If God places a child before you, and you are too busy to wield either a positive or a negative influence…you just did the latter!" 
Every child matters. Whether the child is part of your family, the kid down the street, in your church's student ministry, or in a village across the world, every child desires to feel loved, wanted and that they are special in some way. While you probably shouldn't go around hugging every child you meet -- someone  might call the police -- small efforts can go a long way. 
Take time to tell the children in your family that you care about them. This doesn't mean that you never say "no" or that poor choices don't have consequences, but discipline is a different subject for a different time. Let your family know that you love them and you care about how they feel.
When you encounter children in your neighborhood, or your friend's children, try to find something positive to say to them. You never know when that word of encouragement is exactly what they need.
If your church offers children and student ministries, get involved. There are many, varying volunteer positions that may be offered at your church. If you don't find something there that is a good fit for you, check out local organizations such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Many schools have mentoring programs that need volunteers to donate their time with students also.
There are also ways you can connect with children from around the world. One method is through Compassion International. By sponsoring a child in one of the 26 countries in which Compassion is located, you can make a child feel loved and wanted by sending letters and pictures of you and your family. You will receive letters from your sponsored child and will watch them grow and mature throughout the years. It's an amazing experience! For more information on how you can sponsor a child go to www.compassion.com



Psalm 127:3

New Living Translation (NLT)
Children are a gift from the Lord;
    they are a reward from him.

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