Arms of Love

Editorial by Renee Humphreys

When my sons, Austin and Jaren, were little, they had two places of comfort and love that they readily chose. Without hesitation, they found rest in the caring and loving arms of their daddy and mommy. I still cherish the days when they would place their heads close to our hearts. It was a special place of rest and peace, initiated
by God’s love.

All children need to be loved as God loves them. Not just our own children in our homes, churches and schools, but our neighbors’ children, the strangers’ children, the children that are disenfranchised and marginalized. Children know if we really care about them. They can see and feel love in our eyes, words, tone of voice
and by our actions. They are keenly aware when individuals try to cover up non-Christlike actions with clichés and putting rules above loving people. They formulate decisions by how we treat them in the present, informing whether they should choose to trust us in the future. How we represent Christ will help the children in our communities to determine if they will choose to identify our homes, churches and schools as centers of criticism or of God’s love and peace.

Austin and Jaren are now young adults. Their voices and actions, along with many others, are making a difference by loving others as Christ loves us unconditionally. John 13:35 says, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (NIV). What about you? Can God use your arms to embrace all children with His love?

Renee Humphreys is the associate superintendent of schools for the Chesapeake Conference.