Children

Sunday morning we ate a complimentary breakfast with a number of other hotel guests. A father came in with three young teen sons. He carried a laptop and earphones, sitting one son down with them, turning on the laptop and placing the earphones on one of the boys.

That boy was not as quietly behaved as his two brothers - he spoke unintelligible sounds somewhat loudly, largely ignored by his dad and siblings. Once seated, his attention focused on the screen and the sounds only he could hear.

Also in that room was a newspaper headlining how an eleven-year-old girl had been arrested for the tenth time. As the autistic girl rebelled verbally and physically at school, their response was to call the police, have her handcuffed and taken to jail, over and over again.

Also Sunday morning, a televised service read from 1 Kings 17. Elijah was staying with a widow and her son. At Elijah's suggestion, she shared the last of her food with him. Instead of waiting for death after that last meal, there was enough stores to continue sustaining them through the famine. Yet, the child died. His mother wondered if it were for her past sins, but Elijah went to the One who has all answers:

And he cried unto the Lord, and said, O Lord my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son? (1 Kings 17:20 KJV)

When our children are at risk, we do question God's plans. Are we willing to accept His response when our child is not returned to us healed, or do we expect the answer to always be as the raised widow's son?

Do we expect every prodigal to return, or are we aware that some children will choose the world?

Never cease to speak to God, even when we do not see spiritual or physical healing. Never cease to ask Him for their healing and their return. Remember James 5:16 and seek righteousness.