Only His Love Can Make Empty Hearts Full | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: Only His Love Can Make Empty Hearts Full | Previous Challenge Entry
By Wanda Leslie
06/04/09
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Only His Love Can Make Empty Hearts Full

Today is the last school day of the year. The halls are full of students right now, laughing, singing and celebrating. All are anxious to begin their summer vacation. Some have big plans with family and friends; trips, summer camps and sleeping late.

But, for other students who have no where to go and no one who cares their immediate future is empty, void of friends and family. Their world is filled with the pain that being a lonely teenager can bring.

They have mothers or fathers in prison…sometimes both. They are being raised by extended family members not much older than they are, trying to fit into a family where they do not belong. They are being treated like unpaid hired help… cooking, cleaning and baby sitting. Not just to pitch in and be a part of the family, but so the extended family members can go do their own thing… which is usually not good. They are kids raising kids, while the adults pay their debt to society in jail, and others start their lives heading for a future in that same direction.

We have the young girls who fear they may be pregnant. They are afraid to tell their parents, and they are afraid to go home. The one place they should go and feel safe is the last place on earth they want to be right now.

We have the have the kids on probation and already in institutions. There are kids who cannot make it through the school year in a public school. They have to be watched constantly and sometimes sent away… they are only kids…with no chance, no hope. They have nothing inside, they are just empty shells. They are suicidal and or psychotic. They have been abused in more ways than we could ever know or comprehend, by mothers, fathers, and only God knows who else or how, and how many times.

How can we reach these kids? Kids who are doomed for failure because of pasts they did nothing to deserve. These kids are not the exception; they are norm. Empty, alone and afraid, these kids are the norm. You feel their pain but what can you do?

Pray for them? Of course! They do not have to know, just do it. Prayer will make the biggest difference of all.

Take the time to look, really look into their eyes. They can see that you really care when they look back into your eyes. Perhaps they can even see the light and love of Jesus when they look at you.

Smile. That may be the only smile they have seen that day.

Listen. “No one ever listens to me.” You do not have to talk, just listen. And when they seem to want you to say something… tell them the truth. They deserve to hear the truth. And if you do not know what to say… tell them, “I do not know what to say, but I care… I am here, I am listening.”

And the most important thing of all to say to them is, “I love you.” They will look at you to see if you really mean it. Some will say it back, and they mean it in the only way that they know how. Others will simply say, “Yeah, right,” and walk away. But they heard it. The words stuck. And when they need it the most, they will remember someone loves them.

In saying the words, “I love you,” His seed will be planted in their hearts and His love will start to grow. There will be hope that their lives will begin to be full, for He is their only hope, and your faith will make a difference in their lives.

And most important of all, love them for Jesus. “The greatest of these is love,” and only His love will make their empty hearts full.

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