I Think of You Every Minute of Every Day

The other day, as we were riding in the car, I told my stepdaughter that every time I see a Petsmart, I think of her.

My stepdaughter laughed and repeated what I said to her sister, “Did you hear that Jocelyn? Every time mom sees a Petsmart she thinks of me.”

And Jocelyn, our other daughter said, "Well, that's okay, because 

she thinks of me every minute of every day.”

I could not help but laugh.









My kids, who know how much I love them,

are still constantly seeking love, attention and approval.

Not just from each other, not just from their friends, but from us - their parents.

I thought of the kids that do not have that.

 

Each day as I pick up my girls from school, I see a half a dozen children get picked up for a local group home. I can see them standing in line with each other joking, laughing, smiling and waiting.

And I wonder…

Are they smiling on the inside?
 

They are not waiting for a parent to pick them up like most children.

They are not going to jump in their family car.

They are not going home to do homework with siblings.

They are not going home to eat a snack that was prepared by a parent whose day revolved around picking that child up from school and getting them home safely.

They are waiting for a group leader, someone who is paid to pick them up, take them to their group home and who leaves when their shift is up.

Yet, there they stand, in front of the school, smiling.
 

They are so precious.

Do they know that?
 

Do they have anyone that tells them that they are?

Does anyone tell them that they matter?
  

That they have a purpose.

That they are loved.

That someone is thinking of them.

The other day, I read an article about this little boy he never even had a chance.

All he needed was someone to intercede on his behalf?

What was this mother thinking?

Where was this little boy's family?

Was there not a community around that saw the signs?

At his tender age, did he ever feel special or loved?

My heart hurts for these kids, 

but the sad truth is that their little hearts

hurt more.
 
I wonder what difference really could be made if…

if we did not just pause to think of them, or pray when we passed them by, but what if we actually did something?

Instead of running to the store, to spend our extra money on another pair of shoes to add to our collection, what if we got online and chose to sponsor a child? (All God's Children)

What if we cooked dinner for one month straight (instead of spending money on restaurants) and used the extra money to donate to a cause? (Children without a Voice)

Or rather than driving our kids to the mall to spend their allowance on another shirt or a video game, what if we encouraged them to donate their money to a local church or charity? (Simply Love) 

 





















My kids worry about chores, homework, and bedtime. From time to time, I see them worrying about bigger issues, like their grandma’s Alzheimers and wanting to help those in need.

But I wonder if they really understand how fortunate they are to have been born to parents who love and would do anything for them and a country that carries out laws to protect them and our freedom?

Tonight I will tuck my children into bed, say a prayer and we will kiss each other good night.

But tonight my thoughts are a million miles away.

Tonight, my thoughts are with those children that are going to bed alone and hungry, hoping they will survive another day.

Tonight, I am thinking about the children that will never get to have a parent tell them, 

"I think of you every minute of every day."