When you think of an Emergency Room, you probably think of doctors, nurses, and sick people. Everyone is working to render first aid to the patient who is hurting. Just like the urgency of a hospital Emergency Room, the staff at Miracle Hill Children’s Home find themselves running a type of Emergency Room. The phone could ring, day or night, with a worker needing a safe, warm bed for a child who has been abused or neglected.
Both Kent and Ligon cottages have been very busy the past few months with new children arriving, sometimes on a daily or weekly basis. We never want to see children hurt or neglected, but are honored that the Lord finds us worthy to care for His hurting children. It is hard for us to imagine the fears and uncertainty that run rampant through a child’s mind on their first night. One minute you are with your friends or family, and the next you are being transported to a strange place to live with people you do not know. I was reminded of that uncertainty and fear with one of our recent “Emergency Placements”. We got the call that a new boy was coming and worked quickly to prepare the other children that our family was getting a little bit bigger tonight. We reminded them of how scary it was on their first night and encourage them to become friends with the new child. We didn’t know his name, age, or anything about him. He would be coming in late so we turned down his bed covers and placed a Welcome Box on his bed. Would he come with any clothes or toys? Do we need to call the doctor to address any medical concerns? Would he be hungry? Questions flooded our minds.
When Matthew arrived, everything went smoothly and our questions were answered. He came in with NO CLOTHES AND NO TOYS! He had eaten, but wanted to cling to the juice bottle in his hand. All Matthew wanted to do was take a bath and go to bed. My guys did not disappoint. They immediately began offering to loan him pajamas so he would have something to sleep in. One child offered him a coat to wear the next day. Through it all, he did not cry. He took a bath, changed into his borrowed clothes and sat in the living room. The reality of what had just happened finally hit him. The flood of tears came. Then one of my sweet boys told him, “It’s okay to cry here”. Wow! This was such powerful words coming from a child, who himself had only arrived two weeks prior. I’m glad this child knew that it was indeed okay to cry here. I asked him why he said this. He told me it was because one of the other guys told him this when he first came. Those few words comforted him when he was scared and needed to feel safe.
You as donors, don’t get to see the fruits of your gifts, but we do. Because of the Lord’s provision and your faithfulness in giving, we were able to open our refrigerator, freezer, and pantry and show Matthew that we have plenty of food to eat and he will not go hungry. You were not there when he went to the Thrift Store to get a new wardrobe of clothing and was thrilled to find that “really cool” shirt that you had just donated. You did not see the joy on his face when Matthew found the stuffed Gamecock football that you dropped in the donation box after cleaning out your closets. It may have seemed trivial to you at the time, but to a child with nothing, it was the world! Thank you for giving to our children at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and throughout the year. May your Thanksgiving be filled with the love, joy and peace you give to others throughout the year.
**Due to privacy and laws concerning confidentiality, the name of child involved in this story has been changed.
