Children have a special place in my heart. When a child is born, he or she is so pure and innocent, created in God's image. He or she is a gift from God.......brand spanking new! As a matter of fact, we were all once a child that grew into an adult.

Along the path of becoming an adult, a child is exposed to so much abuse, neglect, and mistreatment. If we will be honest with ourselves, most of us have gone through some unpleasant situation (s) in life that brought about anger, bitterness, and/or hatred. Although it's no excuse, some unpleasant situations are the cause for one to travel down a road of self-destruction or abusive and dangerous nature toward others.

This is why it raises questions in my mind when I hear the news about those who have committed a crime, especially youth, and there is no further explanation of the reason behind it. I have labeled this as a one-sided news story.

So many times, we are quick to judge wrong doing without knowledge of specific contributing factors. Perhaps we should start asking more questions (how have the parents, school officials, other adults, or society contributed to the situation? What has happened in the person's life that triggered the unacceptable behaviors and/or actions)? How can I be a part of a solution for this problem?

Since all individuals who commit crimes can't be institutionalized forever, it may benefit society, if more programs (in schools, communities, detention centers, and etc.) would focus on more teachings in life skills training, overcoming adversities and obstacles, and etc. This could increase a positive oppportunity for more people, especially youth, to look at self and deal with issues that have negatively impacted their life. It could allow one to work toward making better choices in life and becoming a more productive citizen.

The bible tells us to train up a child in the way that he/she should go. It's not acceptable to point fingers at parents and say what they are not doing or have not done. If we can, we should step in and help a child, for they are our future. The bible also tells us that we should be at peace with all men or we shall not see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14). I'm sure we have all been offended, in some way, at some time in life. We should learn to forgive and move on so that we will not be in bondage with anger, bitterness, or hatred. We should also ask for forgiveness from those we have offended so we may be at peace with self and not be in bondage with guilt and shame. But most important, we should always be open to help a child....to teach a child; for as I once heard it, a child is a mother's heart .....walking on the outside of her body.

"There can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats it's children." Nelson Mandela