The Children of Today

As the dust settles on our Summer Holiday Club for 2009 – Showstoppers! one has the opportunity to reflect upon the week’s events. Many positives have come from this as well as lessons to be learned for next year!



The Psalmist says that children are a gift from God – and we certainly have felt blessed by the ministry we have shared with these children throughout the course of the week. It is amazing to see the development in their young lives even through the course of just one week! From the shyness of the first day … to the questions … and the realisation that God’s love is for all and to be shared with all …. and then the celebrations of the final day!


As the weeks and months unfold for these young people, they will be faced with many choices. They will return to their schools and family lives – and for many nowadays, the idea of a ‘normal family’ is far from their experience. Many are with one parent during the week and another parent at the weekend – this is their normality … some have parents who have drink and drug problems – others are in stable families, but seldom see their parents during the week due to long working hours, with both parents struggling to keep their heads afloat in this uncertain economic environment in which we live.



How resilient these young people are. How precious they are to God. During this next week, allow your attention to turn to young people … just where you are. Allow yourselves the opportunity to reminisce back to your own childhood years … if you have happy memories of these days, think about what made that so – good role models, loving parents, family and neighbours; surrogate aunties and uncles who were looking out for you …



If your memories are not so good, if you can, consider also why this was.



And then take the chance to ask yourself how you can ensure the young people around you are given every opportunity to develop into the best they can possibly be for God and the community they are in. Play your part in shaping a better tomorrow for the children of today.






Graeme Parkhill