Dear Child:
Why must you run ahead of me,
Do you not know, that I am here,
Walking beside you?
When you cry at night,
Do you feel me dry your tears?
When it storms, do you know
That I am your shelter?
My dear child,
Can you feel my love surround you?
What is it that makes you run from me?
Can you not see,
That I am there
Walking beside you?
Come back to me, dear child,
And walk beside me.
I came here because my house burned down last night
We lost everything
We had nowhere else to go
I am so scared and don't know where to go from here
Would you reach out to me?
I am homeless
I am here because my boyfriend beat me so bad
I was afraid for my life and for my children
If you could see my battered body and broken spirit
Would you reach out to me?
I am homeless
I am here because my husband passed away
And I could no longer pay all the bills
I tried so hard, and could not do it alone
I have five children with me
We are scared
Would you reach out to me?
I am homeless
I am here because I lost everything in a divorce
My wife, my kids, my home
I was broken financially trying to fight to keep them
I am trying to put my life back together and I am scared and alone
Would you reach out to me?
I am homeless
I am here because I ran away from home
I couldn't take my father's abuse anymore
I have no hope left
I am scared
Would you reach out to me?
I am homeless
I need to see God's love right now
I feel so alone and scared
Would you please pray for me?
I am homeless
A note from Jamey ...
If you can identify with any of the situations is this poem, I would like to tell you that Jesus also suffered for you, for me, for all of us. He went to the cross and died for us, so that we may live. He hears and knows your pain. He has been there with you through every trial. He understands.
I know what pain was because I lived with domestic violence. It was in my own suffering that I had my greatest growth. It was through my scars that came my greatest beauty ... the beauty of Christ shining in my life and His love for me. I would love for you to read my story entitled Escaping the cycle of domestic violence
Jesus reaches out to me …..
He can do the same for you.
Reflect on the following words and let the overflowing love that Jesus has for you love into your inner being.
"For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him
but has listened to his cry for help" (Psalm 22:24).
"The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble" (Psalm 9:9).
"The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us" (Romans 8:16,17).
"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy" (1 Peter 1:6-8).
"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you" (2 Corinthians 4:7-12).
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).
