As I walked down life’s path, I turned and walked up a driveway to visit a teenager. I walked through the living room, through the kitchen, and into the young man’s room. We sat and talked about his worries and concerns of life. I left the house with the feeling that there was something missing in this young man’s life.
I continued down the path and walked up a trail leading to a school. I walked in and sat at a table with a young lady who was about to turn 15 years old. We talked about the concerns and worries that she had; she was about to bring a little baby into the world. I left with tears running down my cheeks.
As I walked away, there was this strong feeling that came over me that there was something definitely missing in the young ladies life. As I continued down the path of life, it led me to a little church. I walked in and sat with a group of children who were talking about their worries and concerns of the week to come. I tried to bring comfort and establish some sense of security, but I could not bring the securities that these children needed.
As I walked away, I fell to my knees and looked up to heaven and cried out, “LORD, WHAT IS MISSING? What is missing in the rooms of our young people? What is missing in the hearts of our young people in our schools? What is missing in the lives of our children at church?” As I continued I came to a playground where children were running freely with no sense of protection.
Then, my mind went back in time to the room of the young man. There was no smell of fresh bread or pie cooking in the oven. There was no call for supper where the family would sit around the table and talk about their day or the days to come. My mind traveled back to the school, and as I walked through, I saw no lunches that had been prepared with the touch of a mom. The young people’s clothes had not been properly ironed and were not neat and clean. There was no one there to calm the young lady’s fears.
My mind traveled to the park, and there I could not find a parent looking out for the safety of the children. Then the Lord whispered, “What is missing is the loving care of a parent!”
Youth Pastor,
Dan Q. Carr Jr.
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