The Children
I had an opportunity the other day I have not had in a while,
to stop and talk to some kids. I was at work doing what I do and we had
to take send someone dangerous to prison; this guy was not exactly the block
captain, although everyone in the neighborhood was scared to death of him. On the other side of a tall chain link fence
from the place where I was standing was assembling a bunch of kids, just
watching us. All the kids came up after we had a stand-off with a bunch
of the bad guy's gang members- they decided to go home, probably a good
decision for them, because I work with a bunch of professionals and we do not
scare too easily. Anyway all these kids
are talking to me and running around pretending to ram open door with sticks-and
then placing each other under arrest, it really was funny and a sight to see
given where we were at. So I walk over to the fence, lean down and I ask
each one of them what they want to be when they grow up, there had to be at
least 8 or 10 of them gathering up close to the fence to see me. Of
course most of them always give the typical answer “I want to be a police”.
One small girl, she looked to be mixed race, maybe 7 years old told me she
wanted to be a baby doctor, she was holding a doll, and she would barely look
me in the face. But then she asked me, "Do you think I can do
that". My heart sank, I told her and I told all of them, to come a
little bit closer and to listen to me, one of the older kids got all of them
quiet. I told them to look at me and I said you can be anything in the
world you want too, never let anybody tell you otherwise and "can't “ain't”
a word. I gave all of them a knuckle bump through the fence and as I did
I hoped I would never see any of them on the other side of a permanent barrier
from me. The last thing I told them was
to always keep Jesus in their hearts and then I went back to work. Those kids
were pitiful; I wonder what kind of chance they have.
It was many miles
later and two days later before I finally got to see my own family again and
when I did of course they wanted to tell me so many things. My youngest
told me the most touching story which was told at school. A woman who is
paralyzed from the waist down was able to complete a marathon with the aid of
something like a spine board and braces for her arms, keep in mind I am getting
the version of this story (which my wife confirmed as true) from a child.
My child finished the story and was so happy about it and then I got a look
which told me I was about to hear something good, “Daddy you are right, can't
ain't a word". I have taught my
children the same thing I told those kids. All of a sudden in my mind I
was miles away, to those kids I had met, my heart raced as I revisited the rush
I felt that day and then I was devastated,
and sickened by what I remembered. I had to snap to and re-focus and be
daddy to my little children. And the one
thing I have left out, this was not the worst thing I saw that day.
Some days you just have to wonder if you are really making a dent in the
world's problems, along with continuing to bear your own cross. I pray
for those children, those days I hate my job. I just want to get rid of
all the bad guys and keep the children safe. Later before we left the scene I
heard a woman cursing her kids telling them to get back into the apartment and don't
talk to those men...I remember who she is
and I know what she does. Now I
am tired and I am going to power down so I can recharge.
In closing I leave you with this- get ready, time is short. There are signs everywhere, we are at
war. My prayer is that God gives me an opportunity
for a righteous fight and will use me as an instrument in the awful moment of hostilities. Be safe fellow warriors and don’t forget to
pray for your children.
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