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Refugees

I have written about my oldest daughter and her family – I called them “my refugees” – living with me while their house was being repaired last year (3 weeks) and then again as the house they bought this year was/is being remodeled (8 weeks). I know they weren’t really refugees. They had a safe, dry, clean (that’s a relative term), cool (until the AC gave out of freon) place to stay. They didn’t have beds but we made do with soft pallets on the floor. They had a bathroom and a small yard of grass and beds of mulch to play in with very tolerant, pleasant neighbors. They had their family together.

However, it was a very difficult time for them – so much upheaval and uncertainty. The children were so good but the effects of the commotion and changes began to show. (I am so proud that they didn’t break one thing!) They needed their own beds and own space – as did my daughter and son-in-law. They moved out about 10 days ago. The windows no longer have finger smudges or lip prints, the rugs are clean, sheets and towels laundered, the furniture dusted…it’s quiet and orderly once again.

I am glad they had my place to come to – I hope they will remember these weeks with fun memories! With or without fun memories I am sure they will remember the chaos and dislocation.

As we went though all of that I have to think of the refugee children on our borders. The chaos, upheaval, fear, uncertainty – it must be overwhelming to a child. I wrote about some of this in my other blog at BeliefNet: http://blog.beliefnet.com/safeplacewithruthgraham/

I don’t want to get into the politics of it here…that’s not my purpose. I do appreciate my friend Glenn Beck’s going to the border with food and toys. “We’re going to fill some tractor-trailers with food, with water,” Beck said. “The churches have asked us if we could bring teddy bears and soccer balls, so we’ve loaded up a whole tractor-trailer of nothing but teddy bears and soccer balls. And then I’m going to go serve breakfast and lunch, and I’m going to help unload these trucks, hot meals for 3,000. That’s what we’re doing.” Read Matthew 25:35-40.

In my opinion that’s the right thing to do. Many also need medical screening and attention. This is a humanitarian crisis. However, we must act with discernment and wisdom. The politicians will do what they do…they are a mess. We must do what we can do – see these innocents, the true innocents, protected and helped to be reunited with their families.

If Jesus were on earth where do you think He’d be?