Imagine a World Without Children

Imagine a world without children. It would be a sad and lonely place. In fact, it would be a dying world.

The greatest joys of my being a grandparent has been the privilege and opportunity in being part of the care and upbringing of Jane and Jonathan. It is literally life-giving for me to participate in the nurturing and growth of new life even as my own life is slowly fading away. I can get a sense that a part of me will live on forever in them – not only in the genes they got from me but more importantly the lessons and memories. Genes, lessons and memories, these will all be somehow etched in their DNAs forever. Give me any day and I would rather be with rambunctious children than be with bickering adults. I would rather be living in the presence of innocence, trust and total openness rather than dealing with duplicitous, cunning and calculating adults.

It is sad how the world treats children today – another indication we are on the road to perdition and self-destruction. Poverty is dehumanizing and it can be fatal to children. Many infants are dying from hunger and malnutrition. This happening even when the world has the resources to feed everyone. Some families sell their children into slavery or prostitution because of their dire poverty.

War is reprehensible and leads to the utter destruction of lives and properties. Children are often pawns in this stupid enterprise. Some unconscionable adults would use them as human shields or human bombs. And in many places, children are recruited, trained and fielded as boy soldiers.

What is happening in the borders of the United States in downright tragic. Children, the hope and promise of their countries, are flocking to the richest country in the world. In the process, their country of origin will become the poorer for it; while the US acquires at no cost the resources to build an even more prosperous society.

Children in many societies have no rights and have no voice, even if the statutes say otherwise. It is totally unforgivable why any society can sanction the taking of the life of an unborn child. All sorts of silly arguments have been fabricated to justify abortions. But every child that dies is a guarantee against the survival of the human race.

We have a lot to be sad and sorry for in the treatment of children today.

Create a clean heart in me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Psalm 51

Children were brought to Jesus
that he might lay his hands on them and pray.
The disciples rebuked them, but Jesus said,
“Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them;
for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
After he placed his hands on them, he went away.
Matthew 19:13-15