Children Are a Heritage From God | Sojourners

Children Are a Heritage From God

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In every moment, we are every age we have ever been, according to psychologist Carl Rogers. For me, this means our bodies are like a bus riding down the highway of life, and the passengers are who we have been at every age. As we travel through life, some things we see, hear, and experience evoke feelings of great joy, love, and calm — or trigger tremendous anxiety, pain, and fear — from different past experiences.

When children are treated like they are not important, told they not smart enough or good enough, valued more for their accomplishments than for the unique individuals they are, treated like they only have value if they have money, or abused emotionally, physically, or sexually, the impact of those feelings never goes away. Those feelings continue to ride on the bus.

Because the child within us never goes away, the impacts of childhood abuse and neglect are long-term unless there is meaningful intervention.

According to the National Institute of Justice, “Being abused or neglected as a child increases the likelihood of arrest as a juvenile by 59 percent, as an adult by 28 percent, and for a violent crime by 30 percent.”

According to UNICEF,

“Every year, hundreds of millions of children are exposed to domestic violence at home and this has a powerful and profound impact on their lives and hopes for the future… Violence in the homes is one of the most pervasive human rights challenges of our time ... it is a global phenomenon… Children exposed to violence may have difficulty learning and limited social skills, exhibit violent, risky, or delinquent behavior, or suffer from depression or severe anxiety.”

The bottom line for those of us who seek to bring peace and justice across nations, communities, workplaces, and homes, is it all begins with the care of all children. In order to have peace and justice in the world, we must develop a critical mass of people who are emotionally healthy, socially responsible, and spiritually connected. To develop this critical mass, we must pay greater attention to the messages we give to our children and youth about the value of all life, including their own.

That’s what the scripture means, “Point your kids in the right direction — when they’re older they won’t be lost.” (Proverbs 22:6, The Message)

There are millions of kids around the world who are lost today, and they engage in risky or violent behaviors attempting to find their way. In response to this global crisis, there are a growing number of community-based projects in collaboration with court systems aimed at stemming the rising tide of juvenile delinquency.

In New Zealand, indigenous Maori community leaders developed a juvenile offender diversion program based in an understanding that youth who demonstrate delinquent behavior are indicating that they are lost and reflecting the impacts of childhood traumas. The Maori program focuses on building the self-esteem of youth who have become involved with the court system. In addition to requiring the youth to pay restitution through community service, Maori elders pour messages into the youth about how important, loved, and valuable they are to the Maori community and the world. They emphasize to the youth that they are the Maori inheritance. Because of the success of the New Zealand program in reducing recidivism rates by more than 80 percent, the program has been replicated throughout the United Kingdom and in cities across the United States like Baltimore, Miami and Alhambra, Calif.

What is our spiritual calling regarding children and youth? Throughout are scriptures, we are admonished to care for, protect, and honor children. The psalmist urges that “children are a heritage from the Lord.” (Psalm 127:3) What does it mean that children are a heritage from God and what difference should that make in our choices and actions regarding children and youth?

I define heritage as something that comes or belongs to one by reason of birth or law. By virtue of their birth, every child should be recognized and regarded as God’s heritage. As such, every child, even those who get lost along the way, should be nurtured to understand whose child they are. Not just their physical traits coming through particular biological parents, but spiritually who they are as God’s own children. Most parents see their children as their heritage — but ultimately, they are God’s.

When we see ourselves and others as God’s heritage, we will be more diligent to help those who are lost because of maltreatment, violence and abuse. Troubled youth, runaways, and delinquent youth are lost and need help to find their way. All of us have our own inner children who need to know they are loved, valued, and a heritage from God. As they know who they are and whose they are, their lives are transformed. This is the work to which we are all called for all the children on the bus, whatever ages they are.

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