Suffer the Innocent Children: Save the Children

By Marian Olivia Heath Griffin

There are millions of innocent children of the world who deserve love, respect, concern and loyalty. Jesus said many times, “ Suffer the little children to come to me and do not bother them.” Innocent children are untrained, undisciplined and lacking in capacity or experience.

Many children suffer today like never before. They need helping navigating their way through the system of life while protecting and respecting themselves.

Real life does not teach great lessons in times of ease and prosperity, joy and comfort. Children’s greatest character- building and faith-strengthening lessons mostly come during times of difficulties and suffering. From the time we are born until our death, God doesn’t waste anything – not even our heartaches and trials.

Many innocent children are blessed with the empowerment of faith, education and experience of joy they deserve. This is god-sent and shows God’s love of human life. He said “I will show you a most excellent way : LOVE. What we do for others, defines who we are.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Feb 24, 2021
• ISBN: 9781664160071

Marian Olivia Heath Griffin

Marian Olivia Heath Griffin lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana with her husband of fifty-eight years. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and College Administrator (retired) for thirty-six years, the last seven years as Director of International Student Affairs. After she retired from Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she decided to utilize her degree in Mass Communication and Photography to tell her people’s stories and history. Griffin graduated from Delaware State University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology and Psychology, a Master’s Degree program in Atlanta University School of Social Work, a Master’s Degree program at Gammon Theological Seminary of the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta. She received her Master’s Degree from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in Psychological Counseling and Social Work. She received a Master’s Degree in Educational Supervision and Mass Communication and Photography from Southern University. She did further study at Louisiana State University and Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. She studied Genealogy at the East Baton Rouge Parish Library in Baton Rouge. She has traveled over the fifty states of the U.S. and six of the seven continents. She has written eighteen books in two years, published them with XLIBRIS and compiled and published two photo books with MYCANVAS BY ALEXANDER. She is proud of her three children: Rev. Bertrand, II (Rev. Kotosha Seals Griffin), Karen G. Phenix, (Keith Phenix) and Dr. Michael (Tracie Haydel Griffin). She adores her eight grandchildren: Nia, Kiara, Christian-Paris, Michael, II. Amelia-Grai, Victoria, Olivia and Sophia – all Griffins and one god-child, Whitney White, one great grandchild – Keomi Phenix, one great- godchild, Amelia Pleasant and her brother, Warren, six great- nieces, Whitney Foucheaux, Amoree Sanders, and Danee Heath, Tikia and Lentia Brown, and great nephews: Bobbie, Jr., Enrique and Alberto Garcia, Tyler Heath, Lauren and Kee Kee Dennis, Arshawon Brown (recently deceased), Willie, Jermaine. Brown, Michael Martin and sons, and Devonte Walker.

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Copyright © 2021 by Marian Olivia Heath Griffin.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. [Biblica]

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 02/24/2021

Xlibris

844-714-8691

www.Xlibris.com

824974

DEDICATED TO THE MILLIONS OF CHILDREN

OF THE WORLD WHO ALL DESERVE LOVE,

RESPECT, CONCERN, CARE AND LOYALTY.

THEY ARE ALL GOD’S CHILDREN - PRIZED AND CHERISHED.

Contents

Author’s Notes

Review

One Nation Under God

Acknowledgements

Introduction: Historical Perspective

Chapter 1 Like the Dandelions

Chapter 2 An Innocent Infant’s Life Matters

A Mother’s Love

Steps or Stages Suggested by Piaget

Parents and Teachers Need Help

Watching A Video Story on a Laptop or Tablet

Response to Reading Aloud

Health Care of the Child

Good Nutrition for Health Sake

Chapter 3 More Precious than Diamonds

The Victory of Faith

Chapter 4 The Innocent Invisible Child

Chapter 5 Stick and Stones May Break My Bones

Joseph Reassures His Brothers

Innocent Children are Forgiving

Chapter 6 My Daddy Called Me Stupid

Chapter 7 One, Then Suddenly, Four More Innocent Grandchildren

Chapter 8 Innocent Street Kids

Chapter 9 I Used To Be Somebody

Chapter 10 Lost of a First Son

Chapter 11 The Innocent Porch Children

Chapter 12 America’s Hurt Innocent Children

Never Forgot His Father

Chapter 13 One Brother & One Sister on the Highwire

Chapter 14 DACA -Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals

Consequences For Latinx DACA Children

Congress Can Fix This

Chapter 15 We Have to Take the Innocent Children

Chapter 16 Human Rights Movement for Innocent Children

Member of Daughters of Charity

Jeremiah’s Story

Chapter 17 The Classroom of Life

Innocent Minorities

Chapter 18 Dorothy Vaughn, Human Computer from Childhood

Vaughn’s Story at NACA/NASA

Chats About Hidden Figures

Chapter 19 Mary Jackson, Human Computer in NASA

A Human Computer Depicted in Hidden Figures

West Area Human Computers

Chapter 20 Katherine Johnson, Train Up A Child

Chapter 21 Native Americn Innocent Children

Navajo Reservation Story

Let Us Start Here

The Innocent Navajo Children

The First Thanksgiving Story

Chapter 22 The Better Life for Innocent Children

Conclusion

Bibliography

Related Readings for Dealing with Children

Resources

Reference Notes on NASA

Reference Books

AUTHOR’S NOTES

S UFFER THE INNOCENT children to come to me, do not bother them, said Jesus. When Kiara, our second grandchild was born, I felt secure in knowing that I had a new generation of a family. Nia, our first grandchild was born to our oldest son and his wife. Kiara was their second child. I was very happy to see another child born into our oldest son’s family.

When Christian-Paris was born to our daughter, we had our first grandson. We were overjoyed.

Our youngest son topped the cake. He and his wife gave us five grandchildren: Michael, II, Amelia-Grai, Victoria, Olivia and Sophia. We adore them all.

Now, there is a new generation, Keomi, the gift of a great- grandchild in Karen, our daughter and her husband, Keith Phenix family.

I have always been fond of children, even since I was a child. Whenever I see a new innocent child, I look at it as a miracle creation. Only God can create a child. He has given us the where-with-all to have a baby. But He alone must create the baby.

God loves his creation, especially the children. Jesus said so many times, in at least three of the gospels – Matthew, Mark and Luke:

People were bringing little children to Jesus to have Him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to the disciples: Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. And He took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them." (Mark 10: 13-16, NIV).

My mother always taught us never to mistreat someone else’s child. She was only teaching us the same lesson that Jesus taught his disciples.

Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not, for such is the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus was mistreated before, during and after his birth along with his parents, Mary and Joseph.

"The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother:

This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too. (Luke 2: 33-35, NIV).

Needless to say, He knows the meaning of being mistreated and he also understands and knows us. You can tell by his language that he loves us because he uses the language of love.

Colleen Townsend Evans said, The hard thing to understand is that faith is the one area in our lives where growing up means we must grow to be more like a child, trusting simply in the goodness and complete knowledge of a Father who has our best interest at heart.

Source: (Evans, MAKE ME LIKE YOU, LORD, p. 1102.)

The older I got, the more I realized that everyone is someone’s child. Therefore, having worked with children in churches, nursery schools, elementary schools, recreation centers, and Arts Camp for Kids, a program that is sponsored by my sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, for our community, it has become my goal to help children, teenagers and adults reach their greatest potential.

Paul spoke of love in I Corinthians:

Love is patient, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. Love is not rude; it is not self-seeking. Love is not easily angered; it keeps no record of wrong. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (I Corinthians 13: 4-7, NIV).

After working in greater capacities with all age groups, there are episodes that make me question, How do prejudice and bias enter our lives? What causes us to judge others because of color or gender, race or religion? There are things that my own children or other children ask me; their questions sometimes teach me that when we as adults show partiality and prejudice, we are setting examples for our children.

"What can we do?’ Parents ask this question of teachers regarding a child’s behavior or his failing is school. The child may be having academic problems. There may be other problems that cause a parent to be laden with worry and need someone’s help today.

Raymond Wise, in his music book, GOSPEL SONGS FOR CHILDREN’S VOICES, VOLUME II said:

"Get excited, get excited, get excited to see what God has done.

He woke me up this morning and started me on my way.

So, I’m excited to see a brand- new day."

Someone said, Look for the rainbow! Look for the rainbow after the rain.

Jesus tells us that he came to earth that we might have life and have it more abundantly.

Sometimes when all seems lost, we echo the words of the psalmist, My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?

(Psalm 21: 1, NIV).

God answered Jesus, his only son, as He hung on the cross. It is finished.

Then God raised Jesus to life.

The only thing that will deliver us from the pain that we are suffering at certain times in our lives is the hope that God will answer our desperate cry for help.

Rebekah Tempest wrote this poem:

REVIEW

"Enticed by love they came to see God in human frailty;

A newborn babe at purest birth delivered, squirming to the earth.

This promised child clutched in his hand salvation sent at God’s command.

Source: (WOMEN’s DEVOTIONAL BIBLE, p. 1173).

I am so thankful that we have a God who is no respecter of persons. I am reminded of His unconditional steadfast love, as he loves each one of us the same and wants us in turn to love one another with the same kind of love.

This kind of love will help us fight against the prejudice that distorts our conception of others.

Michelle Obama, the forty-fourth presidential wife to Barack Obama said in her book, BECOMING, "I continue to adapt to and am humbled by what it truly means to love others; I have become by certain measures, a person of power, and yet there are moments when I feel insecure or unheard. It’s all a process, steps along a path.

BECOMING requires equal parts – patience and rigor. BECOMING is never giving up on the idea that there is more growing to do. (p. 49).

I told my three older grandchildren, Nia, Kiara and Christian-Paris, when we visited them in Atlanta, When I was in high school, I had a principal who apparently loved all the youth in his school. Mr. Webb knew all of us by name.

Christian-Paris, our first grandson said, I know my teachers know my name because they call the roll every day. But I don’t think my principal knows my name.

Nia, our first grandchild said, I know my principal knew my name, because I ran track and I had to go to the office a lot to get excused from class to go with the track team.

I told the children, I am convinced that my retired principal who spent over forty- five years in education and an equal number of years teaching Sunday school classes, loved us, because he said to us in assembly and on the halls of his school, the storms of life can threaten, but they cannot destroy. The abundant life begins for us here on earth and lands in national transition into eternity."

There is an essential thing: faith. The positive attitude of Christian living communicates our faith to those around us. People are just about as happy as they set out to be.

The year I graduated from high school, I continued, Mr. Webb stood at the door of his office quite frequently, but on this special day, two days before graduation, our senior class went to a special assembly and received our year book, our autograph book, and our cap and gown for graduation.

Mr. Webb stood at his office door and invited each of us to come and receive his statement and autograph in our books.

The statement written in my book was, Good things come in small packages; if that be true, success is yours, Marian. Sincerely yours, Mr. Webb.

I still have my autograph book. I showed it to my first grandchild, Nia, when she came to visit us and since showed it to my other grandchildren.

Mr. Webb was laid to rest at the age of one hundred and ten about eleven years ago, but he did not die in our hearts, I said.

Joni Eareckson Tada wrote a passage in the WOMEN’S DEVOTIONAL BIBLE:

I received a letter from Joanna, she said. She was asking for answers to an important question concerning disabled persons.

My Husband and I said Joanna, want to have children. Since I have a disability, we are apprehensive about having children.

Tada responded, Have faith in God, and He will respond to you and keep his promise.

Joanna and her husband are decorating a nursery for their first child and will always be grateful for the advice of a stranger.

I was reading one of my ministerial husband’s sermon topics one day. Bertrand said, Our adversities are God’s universities. Adversities will drive you to God and He will give you what you need to endure and fulfill your yearnings.

The situation that our country is in now is the children’s adversities. In 2018, the broad