Today I gave my son a bath. He hates it. I admittedly often put it off as long as possible because the tears and distress just tugs at my heart. But I do it because it’s good for him. And I love him.
His face was red, and he was squirming everywhere. His eyes thru the tears almost screamed, “Why are you doing this to me?”
But thankfully it doesn’t take long. Soon I was able to cuddle him close and wrap him in a towel. I kept saying over and over, “Mama is here, Mama is here.”
And my heart just tore in two.
This week all the news regarding the immigration issues, and children being torn from their families has been so heart wrenching to hear. I hesitate to ever make comments regarding politics because it is so divisive. And because I am a chicken who hates conflict. But most of all because I know that I am not as informed as I should be. There is so much that I don’t understand. There are so many issues that I have not investigated. I fear being seen as ignorant or emotional.
I will openly admit that the issue is more complicated than letting people in or keeping people out. I don’t know what the best thing to do is. I don’t have a suggestion, or an answer.
But what I do know is when my baby cries, I need to be the one to comfort him. When he is hungry, I need to be the one to feed him. When he wakes up he needs to know that I am here to keep him safe.
This morning I do not take lightly the fact that I get to do that. Because there are thousands of my fellow parents who don’t get to care for their children today. Who don’t know where they are, or if they are being fed. They don’t know who is caring for them. They don’t know if they slept well, or if they were scared. They just don’t know.
We have an abundance of children in this country that do not have parents who want to take care of them. They are beautiful beings whose parents did not value the gift they were given. Orphans and children in foster care who do not have parents to meet their needs. It is tragic!
And to think there are thousands of children with loving parents willing to take care of them, that are being torn from their arms is unacceptable. To think we are willingly separating parents from their children when haven’t even done right by the children who truly need guardians is unacceptable.
I am not fully convinced that those who are trying to legally seek assylum are breaking the law, but regardless these children are no criminals and it is our duty as fellow image bearers of Christ to respect and care for them.
Infants who are being fed and changed, but are not allowed to be physically comforted. That is terrorism. Older children who are watching their parents be ostracized and humiliated. That is horrific.
I have to believe that we can enforce our borders while still respecting humanity. We can enforce legal process without being bullies.
Maybe it is idealistic, but I just have to believe that.
Do I have answers… no. Do I know all the facts… unfortunately no, but I am working on it. Do I think it will be simple or quick… no I do not.
But we have to try to do better. I can learn. I can pray. I can vote for people who I trust to do their best to find a good answer. I can write to those in charge and demand that they do better.
We need to stand up for the least of these. We need to speak for our fellow image bearers. We need to be the hands and feet of Christ. We need to speak up for the oppressed.
I don’t have an answer, but there are people that we entrusted the responsibility to figure it out. We need to hold them accountable to do their job.
Let us all pray about how we can use our voice to stand up for the weak and broken.
Let us welcome the little children who need our protection.
