How many times have you told a child, “You’ve grown a foot since the last time I saw you”? Or the ever-popular “You’re growing like a weed!” And it does seem that, in the blink of an eye, pants no longer cover ankles, and shirts leave wrists exposed.
But that growing is not limited to how clothes fit. Children are learning and expanding each day. They learn new words. Form new opinions. Their minds soak up new ideas, and their worlds are filled with challenges and dreams.
For children in poverty, too often that growth is restricted on every front. Malnourished little ones stop growing. Without education, words and ideas slow. Challenges seem insurmountable and dreams are out of reach. And these children, with minds and bodies primed for growth, are stunted in the prime of their lives.
What an honor it is to work with people who believe that every child has the right to learn and grow. Our Compassion staff do all they can to reignite growth in children pressed down by poverty. Sponsors provide encouragement that these little hearts soak up. And through your prayers, these children can shake off the bonds of poverty, growing strong in the process.
This month, please pray that the million-plus children we serve will grow like weeds. That each day they will grow physically stronger. That their minds will be filled with new ideas. And that their spirits will be resilient — strong enough to withstand the blows of poverty, but gentle enough to know the love of the Father.
Thank you again for your prayers on behalf of the children we serve!
Mark Hanlon
Senior Vice President, USA
Compassion International