If we don't stand up for children, then we don't stand for much.
Marian Wright Edelman
My Prayer for Children
That their childhoods are protected
Their innocence intact
That they never stop searching for magic or rainbows
And see fairy dust and angel wings in the sky
That they believe in happily ever after
That they are nurtured, loved and cherished for the treasures they are
That they grow up to be who they are meant to be
Without interference of critical words, non-present parents, hunger, pedophiles, dangerous neighborhoods or a dangerous world
That their essence isn’t eroded by media’s images or secrets best un-kept
That this world becomes a kinder place
Where their parents live in a supportive society
Where poverty, patriarchy and “ism’s” don’t exist
A world in which violating others has a zero tolerance policy
Country-Fried Mama is hosting a linking of blog posts about our hopes for children on Tuesday, 9-28-10 to help raise awareness for the work of the Joyful Heart Foundation. I’m copying the following from Deckside Thoughts:
"Mariska Hargitay, [Detective Olivia Benson on “Law & Order: SVU"] founded Joyful Heart in 2004 with the intention of helping survivors heal and reclaim their lives. Today, Joyful Heart's mission is to heal, educate, and empower survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse, and to shed light into the darkness that surrounds these issues."
Hi, Dawn! Just wanted to let you know you WON one of my anniversary prizes!!:) I will be sending you hand made tags very soon...I need your addy so if you could email me that...
ReplyDeleteleslieackman@yahoo.com
Congrats and thank you for reading my blog!!!
Leslie
Your prayer for children is beautiful. I wish I could protect all of them, everywhere.
ReplyDeletexo Erin
So exciting ~ your handmade tags are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteErin ~ thank you, so glad you came by & I so wish we could protect them all too.
Amen and amen to that prayer.
ReplyDeleteThese are some of the same things that I pray for my daughter and children everywhere.
Marian Wright Edelman spoke at my college graduation, and the words she shared that day about society's responsibility toward all of its children have stuck with me for almost 15 years now.
ReplyDeleteThank you for helping to spread the word about Joyful Heart!
Thats beautiful. I have an angel page on facebook that I'd like to put the prayer on if thats ok with you :D
ReplyDeleteGood to see you all ~ protection of children is a subject that unites many of us.
ReplyDeleteShelly ~ how very nice, of course you can..I would love to "fan" your page if you have the link (I'll see if it's posted on your blog).
This prayer was beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for introducing it to me.
What a wonderful prayer! Let's hope that prayer is answered.
ReplyDeleteI just returned from a visit to my grandson and your prayer really struck me. Thank you for it.
ReplyDeleteMay all the children be blessed and protected.
amen. smiles. i wish i could protect children as well....i usually get them after they have been broken and help them put the pieces back together...it rips my heart every day...
ReplyDeleteThat they believe in happily ever after...I so hope I can make that true for my daughter.
ReplyDeletethank you all for coming by ~ so glad you enjoyed my prayer...it was for a worthy cause
ReplyDeleteNo matter how challenging growing up in a divorced family - I still believe in "Happily Ever After" - it's a hope and faith thing that sustains me! You said it beautifully about what, as a parent, I want for my children.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you shared your vision. It's beautiful, Dawn.
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful meaningful prayer.
Hi Dawn
ReplyDeleteGlad I checked on here again :) I've added to my page. Thank you. It's called Whispers from the Angels I'm not sure how to share the link on here? I'll have to try and add it to my blogger page. I didn't know your last name to look you up on fb and suggest it to you either ;)
hugs
Shelley
Such a beautiful and meaningful prayer.
ReplyDeleteI posted a video on my art blog along with an update of where I am with the Artistic Mother projects.
http://artisticcreationswithtrudy.blogspot.com/2010/09/artistic-mother-video.html
Beautiful prayer! I love the work Mariska has done with her foundation (as well as the tv show) I just read an article about a man who was a violent criminal, someone I would normally scorn as a first reflex. But the story was his life story, a life of witnessing murder at age 5, of abandonment by his family, of abuse over and over at the hands of foster parents. Not everyone who experiences these atrocities turns cruel, I guess some people are just more likely wired to respond that way, but I'm sure on the day of his birth he was just a normal baby wanting food and comfort and love just like any other baby in the world. Violence is a cycle and it's time we break the cycle and learn love and compassion rather than wearing the blinders of ignorance.
ReplyDeletewhat a beautiful post :0)
ReplyDelete