Daily Prayer

Good morning! This one today is a little different because it's been an interesting week. Been exposed to a bunch of kids this week from babies to high school. I read my niece and nephews my space pages, talk to kids whenever I can and try to remember where my head was and what I was thinking at certain ages. The purpose is so encouragement can be given to them because it's rough growing up. The world is actually quite small for them compared to ours but they don't realize that yet so every problem they face is huge. As they grow up,i.e. high school kids, they start to see the big wide world, fear and trepidation can start to set in. And then some kids fear nothing. That was me and I walked headlong into stuff and well, sometimes it wasn't pretty. The one constant the whole time was Godly mentors and protection from God. I can look back and see that I should've been killed many times but wasn't. Many a Godly person appeared on the scene and saved my butt from sure destruction and some times I resented them for interfering. Of course later I thanked God for them. I think it is really important for us older folks to really reach out to the young ones to help them along without putting them down. We need to show love, correct where necessary and make them feel worthwhile as a member of the human race. To many suicides, to many drug addictions, to much violence and as long as they are not loved and mentored, these things will only get worse. I'm sure our parents had the same fears as we do. Times change, people don't. You can watch kids reactions to things and figure out quite quickly where they are emotionally and mentally. You can spot a child struggling and a family that doesn't know how to reach them. Not a condemnation at all just fact. When you see these things in a child and are able, reach out to them. A kind word, a complement on their individualism whether its hair, t-shirt, odd sock, whatever to let them know they are not isolated from the world and have worth. The kids that run up and hug me or wave or speak regardless of who's around says lots for their confidence in our friendship and that goes a long way! ( of course I can't hug my 1st grade nephew in front of his buddies so we high 5) The kids are the future and we should be careful not to make a damaged future. Rebuke where necessary, praise whenever we can, teach and show them all we know in due time.

Matthew 19:13-15
Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them.
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.
NIV

Matthew 21:14-16
The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were indignant.
"Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him.
"Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read,
"'From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise'?"
NIV

Colossians 3:20-21
Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
Fathers , provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
KJV

Think on all this and open your eyes to that brat next door. Why is he a brat? Don't blame, nurture whenever possible.

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for wisdom. We ask for insight when we meet kids so we don't damage them. Let us rebuke, discipline, nurture, love as needed and show us which one to use. Lord we love these kids and want them to grow up as yours. Lord let us shine for you so they have that light in their hearts and know it's because of you that we are who we are. Lord we lift Jeannie Billings at this time of loss...we lift Tina Taylor to you...we lift Nicki to you...and we lift of course all the kids of all ages to you, in Jesus name, amen