Stewards of life: cherish all children

Having become a grandmother I better understand the power of the next generation.  I have learned how wonderful it is to have new life revealed in this small person growing and exploring and discovering the world.  Laughter has a different sound when we are sharing it with our grandchildren.

So calling believers to take stewardship of  our children sounds like an enviable task.  We recognize the vulnerability of the young and even if it has been a bad day among the younger set, our love for them is deep and abiding.  We want safe environments and nutritious food.  We want good schools and reputable bus drivers.  We want activities that help them grow in body and mind.  We want help learning how to share our faith with them.  All these things seem so obvious, so easy.

But what about those children who aren't a part of our family, who don't live on our street, whose parents either don't have the skill or the will to create safe and healthy environments?  Are we to be stewards of them too?  Is it our concern if those children live in danger, eat occasionally, attend poor and failing schools? (and these children live within 20 miles of our homes).  What about the children far away who are growing up in much worse conditions?

Are we to be concerned about the domestic violence and targeted abuse that physically harms children every year?  Are we to advocate for a better school system that recognizes the challenges some of our children face and and with joy work to provide more for these children?  Is it only our children we are carry in our hearts?

When we follow Jesus, the one who gave his life so we might know that a greater, more abundant life is God's gift to us.........are we to parse out that life to some and not others?  Are we to love with blinders on? Is that how God loves us?

We are stewards of life - from birth to death.  It is probably the largest job we have and it goes far beyond our front door.