Are You Listening?
A Message to My Church
Peggy Harris

Are you listening?
Do you hear the Spirit Wind blowing?
Do you see the healing that is needed?
Are you ready to help?

A small child cries out in anguish
When hurt by physical pain.
Everyone who hears the cries
Responds with all the help
They can muster.

There are many "silent" cries.
Children and adults in pain,
Suffering from the terrible hurt of abuse.
Abuse from those they trusted.
Abuse that wracks their body and mind.
Wrenched out of normality
They struggle to keep going.

Are you listening?
Do you hear the cries?
Do you feel the pain?
When will you help?

The cries grow weak and pitiful now.
Hope grows dim
That survivors will be able to hang on!
Hang on to what?
What hope is there?
Why is there no help?
Or so little concern?
Why do they have to carry the heavy burden all alone?
Doesn't anyone care?

We are waiting for Jesus to return.
That return is immanent, we know.
His Spirit is blowing through the world
And through the churches.
Inspiring responses to human needs everywhere.
Giving hope to the hopeless.
We have the privilege of helping each other.

God knows the pain
And helplessness victims of abuse feel
As they try to make it through another day.

These victims can grow strong.
They can survive the crippling effects
Of the suffering they endure.
With our determination to stop
Perpetrators of abuse
They can begin to heal.

Dear church of mine -
Are you listening?
Do you hear the Spirit Wind blowing?
Do you see the healing that is needed?
Are you ready to help?
Are You Listening?

We Are Listening
Our Response
Peggy Harris

We're listening.
We hear the Spirit Wind blowing.
We do see the healing that is needed.
We are ready to help.

We're sorry that we didn't listen, hear, and see sooner!
Slowly, sometimes too slowly,
We are waking up.
For too long we were rich and increased with "good works"
And saw need of nothing!

Suddenly we see that far too many
Children, youth and adults
Have been harmed by abuse,
And sadly, again, by our indifference.
Please forgive our insensitiveness.

It may be too slow a process,
But we must start somewhere.
Cleaning up the debris and clutter
That accumulates from abuse
Takes time.

Time is short.
Lives need restoration.
We need restoration.
When we open ourselves for this restoration
Then we can begin to experience
The joy of new life, hope, and zeal.

Jesus is coming soon!
As we are working away on this
Healing experience for victims of abuse
We get more and more impatient
For His return!

Beloved members of mine -
We are listening!
We do hear the Spirit Wind blowing!
We do see the need for healing!
We are now ready to help!

With loving care, Your Church

This page last updated on Sunday January 29, 2006 11:16 AM

Disclaimer: We are not a counselling service.  We prepare materials to help church
members and church leaders better understand the problems abuse brings and prevention methods.

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