By Rev. Dean Weber, Chaplain, Mary Kendall Campus

Right now there is a probably a hungry child who is afraid to go to sleep in their own house. We often forget in our daily comforts about the dysfunction and chaos that may be right next door. At the Kentucky United Methodist Children's Home, we witness the quiet desperation of these children everyday.
It was dinnertime. The Girls Emergency Shelter residents meandered to the buffet line, picking up their silverware and food trays. I overheard a girl telling the others that they shouldn't gripe about the food. I looked up. The girl speaking was tall, blond, pale-skinned and a little thin. State social workers had brought Janice last week after removing her from her home.
"It's a relief to me," said Janice as she piled up the salad on her plate, "just to know there is food. Some of the others may gripe, but I never knew what would happen at my house."
"Everyday, when I woke up, there was mama and her boyfriends and the smell of liquor. Sometimes people I didn't know were on the couch. There was usually no food in refrigerator, even though mama had just been paid the day before." Janice found a seat and sat down her tray. She turned around to get a drink passing by my chair.
"Hi, Reverend Dean," she said brightly. "Are you having a good day?"
"Yes, a good day," I replied. Then I thought to myself, 'I was so glad I was here to know her story.'
Janice sat back down at her table and continued. "Here, there is always food for me. I know my clothes are clean and I don't have to go to bed at night afraid. It's just nice to know there's food for supper."
It made me stop and give thanks. When you sit down with your family tonight, give thanks to God, and pray for those who may be afraid in their own homes. Pray for us.
Our ministry exists to show the love of Jesus Christ to youth in desperate situations.