How to Grow Up and Live on the Street ~

Whose Children Become those that Live on the Street?

Surely nobody set it as a goal in life.

Out and about these last few days prior to Khoe and Ellery coming back

to me full time.
I'm getting as much done as I can.... I have planned it out

in order to not be in a hurry or stressed out over doing so.

Dental appointment, Eye Doctor, lab work, menu planned, home de-clutter (never ends).

Done.

It seems these last several times I've been out, I have looked into the face of a homeless person.

It always makes me sad, their living conditions.

I know some actually chose to live as they do...but I believe those that make that choice, do so 

because of some form of mental illness.

What about the others... some are war veterans damaged by what they've seen, lived, or tried to forget.

I believe our Government should be doing more upon the return of our men and women.

What about the rest?

and

Whose children are they?

Why was I so blessed with a loving family so large, it would be hard to escape someone

that wanted to love me, watch out for me, guide me?

When I leave church on Sunday mornings I often walk through a small crowd of teens.

I make a point to notice them.

I've mentioned them before....it still happens that they are somewhat invisible...

So many walk by them as if they don't see them standing there occupying space.

I look, because they matter to me.

I look, because possibly this is the only place someone does notice them.

Sadly so many parents haven't a clue of what thier children are up to...many so 

wrapped up in themselves they don't care to know.

I believe we should watch out for other peoples children.... I mean the more of us looking out

for them the better for them, no?

I mean, even good parents can't be with their children all hours of the day, why not 

be that family friend, church family member that notices. 

 Kids often get the rap of being down right rude to adults...

they don't "respect their elders".

I think that works both ways...we can be examples of, respect.

Respect of another human being without age restrictions to the rule.  

Why would they begin to think about respect, or us expect it from them,

 if we can't even acknowledge their presence?

We can all be a part of forming children that feel valued and loved.

or 

We can ignore them, not our responsibility to care for them,

after all were too busy as it is!

~

A young boy that grew up in my neighborhood grew up to be an alcholic on skid row, 

living and sleeping on the streets of Los Angeles...why?

He was a sweet, shy, well mannered boy.

How did he get missed by so many of us?  

We were a fairly close little neighborhood, 

how do we not see this stuff?

So many of us kids around the same age...somebody had to notice, 

somebody should have announced "hey, we may have a problem here!"

Those of us to busy to notice may have come running...running to be a friend to one of our own.

I think of our "friend" most every time I look into the face of a homeless person...

How do we miss this slow progression of pulling away, becoming invisible,

 alone with nothing but their loneliness?

A person feeling so unloved, so alone that nothing matters in their lives other than 

finding a place on the street that provides a wind break from the cold.

How bad might it be at home that you choose the streets?

Mother Teresa said;

" The world's greatest tragedy is unwantedness, the world's worst disease is loneliness."

My friend grew up in a nice neighborhood full of children and two parent families.

I'm thinking we could have made a difference.  If the adults in our community and for

that matter us kids had made contact with him, made conversation with him,

 possibly someone would have gotten a clue that he needed, 

 someone, anyone.......

How is it we became so busy we missed it???

I'm hoping that none I pass go unnoticed,

I want them to know, I see them......

"He took a little child and set him in the midst of them.  

And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them,

 'Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me'"

Mark 9:36-37

Children are our treasures, let's treasure them....

So that none go unnoticed, that's what echos from my heart today.