International Childrens' Day

 

I have a calendar that shows days celebrated around the world.  It tells me that yesterday was International Children’s Day.  And, as I was processing that, and the fact that I used to use the day as a reason to celebrate Max, and the other children I knew…I was prompted to write about something else.

A few of today’s statistics seem to indicate the world doesn’t value children like Jesus does. 

“People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them.  When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’  And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.” – Mark 10:13-16

According to Worldometer - as of this writing (2:30pm on 6/1), this year there have been 55,637,800 worldwide births, and 18,504,700 abortions.  That second figure is about 1/3 of the previous one.  It doesn’t take into account miscarriages, abortions done at home with the “day after” pill, or by other non-medically supervised ways.  The stats come from the World Health Organization which says the term is only referring to medically induced abortions – and that every year, there are around 73 million performed (or about 200,000 per day!).  That statistic is appalling, but here is another one…

From a site called World’s Children, we get these numbers:  Each year nearly 4 million children are trafficked and then sold in to slavery of one type or another.

When I think about my own childhood, it is a time I would describe as exceedingly happy and carefree, and I feel extremely sad that my experience is not one that is shared by all.

God calls us to love, and said that “children are a blessing”.  Today, let us pray for the souls that may be sacrificed for the sake of “convenience”; and if we get an opportunity - to bless a child by telling them that they are loved.