Safe

Written by cycleguy on September 12th, 2016

After last week’s session with our local judge on sex trafficking, I decided to continue reading a book I started several months ago and laid aside (and I’m not sure why).  The book is called Make it Zero by Mary Frances Bowley. It is divided into 5 sections:

Zero Poverty

Zero Hunger

Zero Isolation

Zero Abuse

Zero Trafficking

I started the Zero Abuse chapter last night and it began with the following quote:

Darkness cannot drive out the darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Here are some chilling statistics that come from the book:

A report of child abuse is made ever ten seconds.

The United States has one of the worst records among industrialized nations-losing an average between four and seven children every day to child abuse and neglect.

Every year more than 3 million reports of child abuse are made in the United States involving more than 6 million children.

There are more chilling stats to add but that is enough.

The overreaching question is this: where is the love a parent is supposed to have for their child? Obviously missing for many.

My heart bleeds for little children-the innocent victims of a broken society. It still comes down to Dr. King’s statement. It starts with each one of us being the light, sharing our love. And ultimately, us pointing people to the ONE who said, “I am the light of the world.”

 

 

19 Comments so far ↓

  1. Linda Stoll says:

    Oh … for ZERO sin in this life. Oh for those who stand up and battle against the enemy’s encroachment on our lives, our families, our communities.

    Amen, Bill.

  2. Betty Draper says:

    Well, I have started three sentences on this one Bill. I searched high and low for answers as an abused child and can tell you there is no healing from it unless it is super natural. No one but Him can take a wound that deep and make it a scar, no one. Good doctors, counselors, pastors, friends and even family can all be used to help heal a person but only He can bind up the wounds and touch it with grace and love and mercy and make it a scar. It took me a while to get over that God sent His Son to die for the abuser too. Oh I hated that thought at first, before I understood a little about divine love. God in his wisdom brought my dad back into my life, I took care of him the last three years of his frail life. Did I love him, of course not, but God loved me and him……God’s love is so much stronger then any humans and He makes all things possible. I learned when you want something badly you can sacrifice to get it. I sacrificed my unforgiveness, my hatred, my bitterness, my pain for just a small taste of that love beating in my heart for someone who was as unworthy as I was of that love. I felt that love the day the doctors told me dad had died. It came from Romans 5:1-5. I am gonna have to get this book…sound like a good one to give to someone not healed yet. Stirring post brother, stirring indeed.

    • cycleguy says:

      I can’t imagine the pain involved in being abused. I only know as I listen to those who experience it. I’m so glad you had a chance to take care of your dad and show him love.

  3. Ceil says:

    Hi Bill! My son-in-law is a social worker, and he worked in a facility for teenage sex offenders. Yes. Offenders. The greatest trigger for a child who hurts other children was that they were molested at some point themselves. Its SO sad!! When you say your heart bleeds, I believe it.

    God must help us to help each other. We must try to be better leaders to our children, and to those who struggle with parenting and abuse. It seems like a crazy, endless cycle, but we have to be that light in the world. The world really needs it.
    Blessings,
    Ceil

    • cycleguy says:

      More and more studies are showing what you son-in-law has said Ceil. Sadly, for many it is a crazy, endless cycle and stopping it is so crucial but so hard to do. Thanks for the comment.

  4. The statistics you shared here, Bill, are staggering. I feel as though I’ve been sucker punched and can’t catch my breath. There are some things that stir me to righteous anger, and the abuse of children is one of them. Praying for love, not hate, to shine into the lives of these precious little ones.

  5. We live in such a broken world… it breaks my heart. 🙁 – http://www.domesticgeekgirl.com

  6. Sharon says:

    Those are sobering and heartbreaking statistics. Abuse is never OK, but it particularly hurts when it involves innocent children. Love is sometimes missing, and sometimes it’s expressed in such broken ways that it can’t be recognized. We are wise to remember how Jesus viewed children, and follow His example in being the champion of those who can’t always protect themselves.

    GOD BLESS.

  7. Jeff says:

    The Jesus story has had 2000 years to make a difference. I am not sure it will make any difference in the next 2000 years. But believe what you want.

    • Jeff, that it’s made all the difference in my life and the lives of so many others I know and have loved over the years, that is enough for me. Jesus loves you so much; I just wish you would give Him a chance to enter your life.
      Know I’m praying for you, whether that means anything to you, or not.
      Sending blessings!

  8. Jeff says:

    Martha, I am sure you mean well. You seem like a nice person. I am not looking to make a difference in my life. I like life as it is without any supernatural influences. The natural world suits me fine. I couldn’t believe in the myths and fairy tales of any religion. I am just not wired that way. But if believing it makes you feel good then by all means believe it.

  9. Mike says:

    The unfortunately reality, Bill, is that our enemy is so entrenched in our society that all the love we have will not make the impact that we need. Think also about the child sex slavery in this and many other countries. It breaks my heart to think that children are treated this way. The return of Christ is the only thing I can think that will put a halt to it all. That doesn’t mean we don’t shine our light and pray for them, I just feel it’s not going to effect the changes we need.

  10. floyd says:

    Those are heart wrenching stats… I like the quote. And it is only the love of God that is the true love that changes lives forever and eternity.

    I’m praying for our nation and for our children… we’re all together in this.