Delphine Riviere, an adoptive parent from central France, holds Haitian child, Erika, on her arrival in France for adoption, at Roissy airport, outside Paris. (AP File Photo)
A loving girl who had lost her parents when she was a toddler told me one mother’s day, “at least I have seen my father in a photo but I have never seen how my mother look like, I would have been the happiest person in the world if only I could have a chance to see how my mother look like.” How do you console such a loving daughter? I was deeply moved to know why a four year old girl could not sleep without cuddling a pillow. The story behind is heartbreaking, she had the habit of embracing her dad every night she slept, but all of a sudden her father disappeared (died), only to be replaced by a cool pillow to enable this little girl to go to bed. Will she ever get the warmth and security her dad used to give?
The world of an orphan is miserable; like any normal children they also have wants, needs, likes, expectations, dreams, ambitions and longings for which there is hardly any probability except for the few fortunate ones. They needs love, affection and care but instead they are often neglected, oppressed and denied. In most cases, they end up as domestic helpers and drop outs. They are being traumatized by the death of their parents and they also grow up with resentment. Unless they are taken care of, they can become potential anti-social elements in our society. However, if they are taken care they will grow up with a burden and concern for children like them. They need our love, support, and encouragement to fulfill their dreams.
As a good citizen and a good human being it is our bounded responsibility to have compassion to the least fortunate children who are parentless. Remember, today some one is an orphan but tomorrow it can be your own children. What guarantees that our children can not become orphans? Start inspiring people with your charitable services towards the orphans today because, who knows, tomorrow your children may be looked after by people whom you inspire to care for the orphans today. Every Christian must adhere what the Bible teaches us about our responsibility towards the orphans. The Bible condemns and warns of terrible affliction for injustice perpetrated against orphans, “Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan. If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry. My anger will be aroused, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives will become widows and your children fatherless.” (Exodus 22:22-24); “Do not deprive the … fatherless of justice...” (Deuteronomy 24:17). Watch out! because orphans are special children in the sight of God and anything done against them will provoke God’s anger upon you as the Bible clearly states.
God executes justice for the orphan, “He defends the cause of the fatherless…” (Deut. 10:18). This warns us that, any injustice done towards the orphans is doing against God’s precept, which can invite God’s wrath to an individual and generations to come. God desires His people with outmost compassion to provide food for the orphans, “When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back and get it. Leave it for … the fatherless… When you harvest grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for …the fatherless…” (Deut. 24:19-21). The Letter of James stresses also the importance of taking care of the orphans, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widow in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27). More than our worship God desires our compassionate action towards His children who do not have parents. A Christian should never neglect the orphans. God expects every believer to pay attention to the cries of the orphans, to protect their rights and to provide for their needs.
These affectionate children are parentless not by their own choice, neither have they done any wrong that they have to face such a wretched life. Many who are born out of wedlock are abandoned and treated as inhuman to the extend of throwing them in the garbage like rubbish. Several have become orphans as they seemed to be destined because their parents died at such a tender age of their loving children. Yet, many have become orphans because their parents made wrong choices for their lives.
No matter how a child must have become an orphan, the child needs someone to bring a smile in his/her face. If not you, who will? If not today, when will you…? Norman B. Rice rightfully said, “Dare to reach out your hand into the darkness, to pull another hand into the light,” each of us has the moral obligation to stretch out our hands and help the least fortunate people around us to improve their life for better.
If you want your life to be meaningful, give life to someone who needs you today with whatever resources God has bless you. In so doing you will find the meaning of your life. As Edward Everett Hale commented, “I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do,” let this be our attitude in making a peaceful world and a better place for everyone to live in. Remember the affliction of the orphans! Each one Protect, Provide and Parent one Orphan.
The world of an orphan is miserable; like any normal children they also have wants, needs, likes, expectations, dreams, ambitions and longings for which there is hardly any probability except for the few fortunate ones. They needs love, affection and care but instead they are often neglected, oppressed and denied. In most cases, they end up as domestic helpers and drop outs. They are being traumatized by the death of their parents and they also grow up with resentment. Unless they are taken care of, they can become potential anti-social elements in our society. However, if they are taken care they will grow up with a burden and concern for children like them. They need our love, support, and encouragement to fulfill their dreams.
As a good citizen and a good human being it is our bounded responsibility to have compassion to the least fortunate children who are parentless. Remember, today some one is an orphan but tomorrow it can be your own children. What guarantees that our children can not become orphans? Start inspiring people with your charitable services towards the orphans today because, who knows, tomorrow your children may be looked after by people whom you inspire to care for the orphans today. Every Christian must adhere what the Bible teaches us about our responsibility towards the orphans. The Bible condemns and warns of terrible affliction for injustice perpetrated against orphans, “Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan. If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry. My anger will be aroused, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives will become widows and your children fatherless.” (Exodus 22:22-24); “Do not deprive the … fatherless of justice...” (Deuteronomy 24:17). Watch out! because orphans are special children in the sight of God and anything done against them will provoke God’s anger upon you as the Bible clearly states.
God executes justice for the orphan, “He defends the cause of the fatherless…” (Deut. 10:18). This warns us that, any injustice done towards the orphans is doing against God’s precept, which can invite God’s wrath to an individual and generations to come. God desires His people with outmost compassion to provide food for the orphans, “When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back and get it. Leave it for … the fatherless… When you harvest grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for …the fatherless…” (Deut. 24:19-21). The Letter of James stresses also the importance of taking care of the orphans, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widow in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27). More than our worship God desires our compassionate action towards His children who do not have parents. A Christian should never neglect the orphans. God expects every believer to pay attention to the cries of the orphans, to protect their rights and to provide for their needs.
These affectionate children are parentless not by their own choice, neither have they done any wrong that they have to face such a wretched life. Many who are born out of wedlock are abandoned and treated as inhuman to the extend of throwing them in the garbage like rubbish. Several have become orphans as they seemed to be destined because their parents died at such a tender age of their loving children. Yet, many have become orphans because their parents made wrong choices for their lives.
No matter how a child must have become an orphan, the child needs someone to bring a smile in his/her face. If not you, who will? If not today, when will you…? Norman B. Rice rightfully said, “Dare to reach out your hand into the darkness, to pull another hand into the light,” each of us has the moral obligation to stretch out our hands and help the least fortunate people around us to improve their life for better.
If you want your life to be meaningful, give life to someone who needs you today with whatever resources God has bless you. In so doing you will find the meaning of your life. As Edward Everett Hale commented, “I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do,” let this be our attitude in making a peaceful world and a better place for everyone to live in. Remember the affliction of the orphans! Each one Protect, Provide and Parent one Orphan.
N. Thungdemo Kikon
Wondang-Ki Orphanage & Adoption Centre
101 Fellowship Colony; Dimapur. Nagaland.
