No excuse for abusing children

They play with seemingly endless joy and energy.

The smiles, the look of excitement in their eyes, are enough to brighten the gloomiest of days.

It's impossible not to feel a tug at your heartstrings when they run and hug your legs.

Children are small wonders of life. Sweet, innocent children who look up to their parents and grandparents for care, nurturing and protection.

My children are grown now with families of their own, but I still feel a sense of protection for them and a willingness to help whenever I can.

And then there's the grandchildren. They bring a sense of joy and love and pride in my life that only a grandparent can understand.

I spoke with a new grandmother recently and she was beaming about the birth of her grandson. She was as proud of that little boy as I'm sure she was when her daughter was born.

Unfortunately, in my profession, I run into those parents and grandparents who apparently aren't so proud of their children.

They're the parents who give up their children and leave them for grandparents or sometimes even great-grandparents to raise. Or the children are forced to survive on their own or live in foster care.

It's hard to think about it, but in today's society not everyone looks at a child as a gift, a joy.

Some look at them as an extra mouth to feed, as a burden. Others look at them as a way to abuse the system, getting extra food stamps, medical insurance and using other government-subsidized programs.

But the real injustice is when I see so many children, and I mean young children, who are physically abused or neglected by their parents.

At a recent domestic violence awareness program, a shocking statistic was presented to the audience: 90 percent of all child abuse cases involve the victims' parents or guardians. That's nine out of every 10 children who are mistreated by their parents or guardians - the people who are supposed to be taking care of them.

There's something wrong with this picture.

How can someone who is supposed to love and nurture a child be abusive? I look into the eyes of my youngest grandchildren and I melt.

It hurts me to have to get on to them. I even feel bad when I get upset with my three teenage grandchildren.

If you have a heart, there has to be special feelings and love for a child.

For those who abuse or take advantage of an innocent child, I believe the good Lord has a special place for them.

Children are to enjoyed and loved - not abused.

Tom Smith can be reached at 740-5757 or tom.smith@TimesDaily.com.