God Bless The Child, In Shania Twain's Words

Forgive me, but I think I am yet to recover from the shock of the incidence of a child being lynched to death for stealing. It makes me want to take some time to pay tribute to all the children who are out there suffering in one way or the other. 

I found Shania Twain’s God Bless The Child yesterday, and I don’t know whether it helped, or her words deepened the pain. But what I know is that it made stronger my compassion for those I’d call wounded arrows.

Just like some accusations that were made against the diseased child, her lyrics captures some of such scenes where our world brings these children to and they are left to a bitter fate. 

This child is homeless, that child's on crack
One plays with a gun, while the other takes a bullet in his back
This boy's a beggar, that girl sells her soul
They both work the same street, the same hell hole

Shania says, “Some have daddies who make them play games they don't want to play…” And like I asked in a post I made yesterday, where are those “daddies” who make these children play games they aren’t supposed to play? These “daddies” are not only their parents, but also everyone who directly or indirectly influences these children and what they turn out to be.

As I play this song, I join her to make this simple prayer: “When a child's spirit's broken and feels all hope is gone, God help them find the strength to carry on.”

I challenge you today, to always remember that “All God's children need is love and us to hold their little hands.”

Let us supply them the hope and faith that they need. Determine this day to be a source of inspiration and blessing to a child around you. Through them, you will share in shaping the future. 

I’m not only talking about your own children, or those in your family. I mean every child you have access to. If you pour yourself into them, they will be your presence when you are gone. And through them, you will live longer than age can allow.

I hope this song says something to you, as it has to me. And if you do, join and sing along: "Hallelujah, hallelujah, God bless the child who suffers."

Here is the full lyrics:

Hallelujah, hallelujah,
God bless the child who suffers
Hallelujah, hallelujah,
God bless the young without mothers

This child is homeless, that child's on crack
One plays with a gun, while the other takes a bullet in his back
This boy's a beggar, that girl sells her soul
They both work the same street, the same hell hole

Hallelujah, hallelujah,
God bless the child who suffers
Hallelujah, hallelujah,
Let every man help his brother

Some are born addicted and some are just thrown away
And some have daddies who make them play games they don't want to play
But with hope and faith we must understand
All God's children need is love and us to hold their little hands

This boy is hungry, he ain't got enough to eat
That girl's cold and she ain't got no shoes on her feet
When a child's spirit's broken, and feels all hope is gone
God help them find the strength to carry on

But with hope and faith, yea, we can understand
All God's children need is love and us to hold their little hands

Hallelujah, hallelujah
Let us all love one another
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Make all our hearts bilnd to color
Hallelujah, hallelujah
God bless the child who suffers