Have you ever been safe?

I don’t mean when you stood on base after a solid lick on a ball to right field. I mean safe from bodily harm.

Many children and youth come to Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes & Family Ministries without knowing the true meaning of “safe.” They were often harmed by their parents or other guardians. These youngsters often think “safe” is when you lock yourself behind you bedroom door when you guardians are at work or asleep.

Examples include the young boy who slept with his clothes hidden between his bed mattresses so thieves wouldn’t steal his pants and shirts; the teen-aged girl who would sleep while wearing the socks where the only $3 to her name was hidden; and the traumatized child who slept every day at school because she knew the teacher wouldn’t let her mother beat her there.

We at the Children’s Homes strive to create a safe environment where children and youth can concentrate on the good things in life such as school grades, home runs and squeaking their clarinets. Children and youth are nurtured and protected so they can understand that when they  pray “Now I lay me down to sleep,…,” they know for sure that our Lord and His servants here will keep him safe.