The Girl In The Window.

Photo From "The Girl In The Window"

This week has been tough at work. I've seen little, little babies with all kinds of broken bones. I've seen women using meth, cocaine, and heroin while they're pregnant. I've seen child welfare workers not do a thorough enough background check on a non-custodial parent and consequently place the child with someone VERY dangerous.

Lately, my work has been everywhere, including my dreams. It's wearing on me a lot. I've had to read and re-read Psalms 82:3-4, "Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked." I feel convicted to do this work, but often it's just difficult. One of the most frustrating things about my job is that I can't share anything with my husband or family. I could tell Justin that I worked on a parental sex abuse case, but that in itself doesn't rip your heart out like it does when you know the child, and hear all the graphic details.

However, I can share a special report published by a newspaper in Florida called "The Girl In The Window." Read the story, look at the multi-media portion of the article. Believe me when I tell you that abuse THIS SEVERE is happening all across the nation every day. Even where you live.

So, how can you help? First and foremost, if you ever suspect child abuse, call your local child welfare office. Remember that child abuse isn't just physical abuse--it's neglect, it's sex abuse, it's exposure to domestic violence, it's exposure to drugs, it's MANY things. It isn't your responsibility to decide what is or isn't abuse...if there's ANY doubt in your mind, let child welfare decide.