Tired Cats

How do we help an emerging adult completely on the welfare system whose role model is a parent completely on the welfare system break the cycle? When these people are jumping from crisis to crisis, and spending all their energy trying to find what free program will feed them, clothe them, and give them shelter...how can they ever break out to something that will lead to a better future? We all know giving them one day's "fish" in the end is not the solution. How can we as a society give them tools so that they will become fishermen? Most importantly, how can we bring the only solution that offers eternal help, a living faith in a loving God, if we never take a step in their world ?

Christians, we can do better. If we would kick ourselves and our churches in the backsides to take action, we can change the world. If we would do something, anything, like offer free childcare a
few hours a week, these young, hopeless moms might have a shot at pursuing a college degree. If we would offer just an hour or two of our time to help mentor and give guidance to these young folk in how to be proactive in seeking solutions, setting up interviews, filing for grants, learning how to find and appropriate resources, making lifestyle choices that don't perpetuate the cycle of poverty and broken families.... many of these at risk young adults could be saved. This is not the duty of government. It is the duty of every one of us who has been given a new lease on life when we came to know our Lord and savior and His incredible redemption of our sorry souls. We can't do it all, but surely we can do one thing.

I would challenge you to go stand on the sidewalk of an abortion mill. There are girls aching for someone to stop them from the terrible track they are barreling down. Adopt just one as your friend, and love her, mentor her, encourage her. Show her there are better choices that don't lead to despair and destruction. Show her in concrete ways the love and providence of God. If one tenth of those who claim to love God would do this, I think we could begin to change an entire culture.

While pondering these i8ssues, I took Honeybun on a walk yesterday. We passed an old cat, sunning herself on a driveway. She didn't even attempt to run away as Honeybun stiffened, and turned towards her. She let out a long, low hiss, but didn't move. Honeybun was flummoxed. Despite being a dog with high prey drive, where is the fun in chasing a comatose cat? She glanced at me, utterly confused by the cat's ennui. This is not the way it is supposed to be!

This is what the welfare system does to people. It emasculates them, destroys the drive to better themselves and be all that they should be. Government dependence is not the answer. It makes a bunch of tired cats who can ineffectually hiss, but have lost all their lithesome grace and aerobatic movement forward, or even the skills to survive and thrive.

As Honeybun and I walked away, she kept turning back and looking at the cat in bewilderment. This is not how cats are supposed to be, she seemed to say.

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If you would like to mentor some of these at risk young moms, please contact Lisa Metzger, outreach coordinator of cities4life at LisaMetzger@Cities4Life.org

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2 Corinthians 12:9 

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Deuteronomy 31:6

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

1 John 4:4 

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

Acts 1:8 

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Luke 10:19-20

Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”