We Catch the Vision of Your Tears

 each night as my wife and i watch the evening news, we see images of children crossing our southern border from mexico after having made their way north from their homes in central america.  the most haunting of these images was the young boy walking alone through desolate country and encountering a border patrol agent.  we hear him ask the agent for help as he describes having been abandoned by those with whom he crossed the border.  seeing his innocent eyes brimming with tears, our hearts go out to him.  for me, his story captures the plight of those who are seeking our help.  his cry, "can you help me," must be answered in the affirmative.

this is one of the few points on which my wife and i disagree.  as she watches the stories of those seeking asylum, her response is that we can't possibly take in so many unaccompanied minors.  we don't have proper facilities to care for them.  they are crowded into shelters with little room to spread out on the floor to sleep.  those responsible for their care are overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of those who are coming to us.  the conditions in which they must live are intolerable and their suffering must be great.  they've left everything that is familiar to them to come to a strange country.  i see my wife's point and agree with her that the present circumstances can't be allowed to continue.  yet, i know, too, that what these asylum seekers suffered in their home countries must have been horrific for them to have made their way all this distance to seek refuge in this country.  how can we turn our backs on these children as they cry, "can you help me."  

a solution to this crisis must be found.  knowing the compassionate heart of mr. biden, i feel certain that his administration is doing its best to establish a humane system to deal with this situation.  my wish is that we would hear something of what plans the government has to ease the suffering of these children.  we must find places for them in better facilities and with family members here in the usa.  we need to know what steps are being taken by our government to ease the situations in their home countries that cause them to leave their families there to find a better life here.  in the meantime, we can't turn our backs on these children.  we must help them.  they must be assured that our hearts are filled with compassion for them, that we will care for them as best we can,  and we will do what we can to ameliorate conditions for those left behind.

may our compassion outweigh the difficulties of caring for these struggling children.  may we see that easing their suffering is an opportunity to make the world a better place one child at a time.  may we realize that the wealthiest country in the world has the resources to care for these refugees who cry, "can you help me."  shalom.