Christmas Child

Today I was a guest on Spirit of Hope Ministries' radio show "Caught Up". My friends the Bishops Polk have been nice enough to invite me to come out once a month and talk about what's happening in our community regarding domestic violence.

This past month, I've heard a lot about step parents abusing their step children and boyfriends beating, and in some cases, killing the children left in their care.

Since its Christmas time, I want people to remember that Jesus was a step child. Joseph was not his natural father, God was! if you remember at the beginning of that story, Joseph was upset and thinking about putting Mary away privately! Then theAngel came to him and said, don't fret, this is God's child, and you have the honor of raising Him.

And so are all children, gifts from God. The children left in your care are gifts from God. Jesus said that it would be better for a millstone to be tied around your neck and be thrown into the ocean, than if you offended one of His little ones.

Telling a child that they are bad, instead of what they did was wrong and explain why, is an offence against that child. Telling a child that they are dumb, stupid or an idiot is an offence to that child. Telling a child that you hate them or that you wish they'd never been born, is an offence to that child. And abusing that child physically or sexually, is an offence to that child.

Jesus loves the little children, all the little children of the world. We should do the same and stop offending His little ones.

Rev. Angelia Schwarz Coleman
 Minister-Works of Heart Interfaith Ministry
 Executive Director-Healing Families' Lives
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