Spiritual Corner: Desperate for Love
A little boy fights to hold back a tsunami of tears as he explains why he became so upset over what seems to be such a trivial matter. Some might say he's just being a baby, but knowing him, I know that there's so much pain and heartache in his little life that's fueling his overreaction. Another child scribbles obscene words across a paper, words I never would have even heard of at such a young age. Does the child even know what they mean? Maybe, maybe not. What's clear though is that these ugly words are seeping out onto paper because of disappointments and broken promises that this child continues to experience daily. Still another child seems to have zero regard for rules at all. Disrespect, a raised voice, and wild antics are a very regular occurrence. Yet this same child is the one who begs to hold my hand going to lunch or slips up beside me while I'm sitting for a couple minutes and lays his head on my chest and holds onto me. What looks to be an uncontrollable child is really just a child who is so terribly desperate for love.
I don't tell you these situations to make you sad. I tell you these situations to make you aware. I didn't used to be aware that such little, painful lives existed. I'm still not fully aware. I don't think I'll ever be fully aware because I've never personally experienced what so many children do. I was extremely blessed to be raised by both of my parents, in a large, very cohesive family, where I experienced love and discipline every single day of my life. I was raised in a Christian household and I was shielded, as best possible, from worldly things that could cause me to stumble. I didn't crave attention and therefore act out, because I got more than I could ever ask for. I was privileged and blessed and loved. I encourage you, if you are like me, to never stop thanking the good LORD for your blessings. Never take those blessings for granted either. Cherish them and be grateful for them daily. The next thing I encourage you to do, (and I need to do as well), is to take a good, long look at the situations I described to you above. There are tons of children like this all over the world. In fact, for every child who grew up like I did, there are probably 10 more that didn't. These children are so desperate for love and attention, which makes you stop and think...their parents are probably craving the exact same thing. In fact, aren't we all desperate for love and attention from somebody, ANYBODY? Even growing up with such an amazing and wonderful family and now husband, I've craved love and attention. And if all I had was my family and husband, it wouldn't be enough. Not because I'm just that picky or spoiled, but because the human heart and soul yearns for something more. It yearns for something that no human on this earth can satisfy. It yearns for God. Only the love and attention of our Divine Creator can satisfy that deepest desire of our hearts. I am blessed to have found that satisfaction and love in Jesus, but some people haven't. These poor children haven't even found it fully in their family members. There are so many lonely and desperate people in this world who need love. They need love from their families, from strangers, but mostly they need the unfailing and perfect love of a Savior. THE Savior.
I feel like I've rambled a little bit, but here's the whole point of my article. We who are Christians need to seek out those who are living in despair and desperation. We need to show them the love that they are longing for through our words and actions towards them. We need to share with them the Good News of the Gospel and introduce them to a love that we could never give them. We need to submit to God and allow Him to use us as His instruments to help heal the hurting souls of the world. The more we courageously reach out into the dark world, the less sad situations there will be. Let's pour our love out on someone today and watch as Jesus begins to rescue His precious children from their tears of desperation and longing. -Dana Alexander