Children's Sabbath

Children's Sabbath October 23, 2011

Almighty God, heavenly Father, you have blessed us with the joy and care of children: Give us calm strength and patient wisdom as we bring them up, that we may teach them to love whatever is just and true and good, following the example of our Savior Jesus Christ.

- Book of Common Prayer p. 829. For the Care of Children

What is the Children's Sabbath?

The National Observance of Children’s Sabbath is an annual event that reminds people of faith and their congregations of our obligation to lovingly care for all children, and inspires us to improve the lives of children through political advocacy.

This year's theme is "Justice, Justice Shall You Pursue: Answering God’s Call to Protect Children"

Every Child is a Child of God

Every child is a beloved child of God. But, we don't treat them that way. In the United States:

Over 12 million children -- one child of every six -- are poor. (Almost three out of four poor children live in working families.) Each a child of God... living in poverty.
Over nine million children -- almost one in every eight children -- lack health insurance. (Most of them also live in working families.) These children are no less likely to get sick but are far less likely to see a doctor. Each a child of God... without needed health care.
Thirteen million children live in families not getting enough to eat. Each a child of God... going hungry.
Quality child care and early childhood education are unavailable or unaffordable for millions of children. Too many children enter school not ready to learn and too many schools do not expect or enable children to achieve. Each a child of God...without the nurturing they need.
Every year, almost 900,000 children are confirmed as victims of child abuse and neglect, and more than three times as many are reported as suspected victims of abuse and neglect. Each a child of God... hurt and neglected.
More than six million children are home alone after school each week, where they are more likely to engage in risky behaviors such as smoking, drinking, sex, or crime. Each a child of God... alone and at risk.
An average of eight children a day are killed by gunfire in our country. Each a child of God... killed by a bullet.

It's time to start treating every single child like a child of God, assuring every child the justice and love they deserve, so that we leave no child behind.

What We Can Do

What can we do to live out our belief that every child is a child of God?

Pray for all children. Remember especially the children who are not treated as beloved children of God. Pray for our nation, its leaders and citizens, that we make the choices that recognize each child's inherent dignity and worth. Pray for justice and compassion for all of God's children.
Tell children that they are beloved. Show them that they are loved. Talk with them about what it means to be loved and valuable in God's sight, to be God's precious own.
Reach out to help children whose circumstances or experiences may make them feel more like trash than God's treasured children. How can you help a child who is hungry or poor or lacks health care or is abused or neglected or needs good quality child care or is at risk of violence or is left alone after school each day? Find a program or organization or way to donate time or resources to help children. Without even preaching a word, you can communicate that they are beloved children of God by helping to improve their lives and treating them with dignity and respect and caring.
Speak out for just policies and decisions that convey the dignity and worth of every child. Demand that we as a nation change our priorities so that children are not left behind. Vote for leaders who will stand for the children and ensure justice so that we leave no child behind.