They Matter Today
As the new year rapidly approaches, I'm sitting here on my computer doing more research about schools and majors and careers. I thought I already did this. I thought I was done with this. But apparently I'm not yet.
I was site hopping and reading interesting articles and wisdom and advice from every professional in every field out there; then I stumbled upon this little tidbit of information:
"If you want to avoid the worst-paying college degrees, think twice before choosing a college major that involves children."
-Lynn O'Shaughnessy
You should know now that this isn't a nice blog post. This time I'm angry. I'm frustrated. I'm confused at why people cannot seem to wrap their minds around the importance of children.
Why is it that our society pays the least to people who dedicate their lives to helping children? Elementary education, social work, and family studies all fall down to the bottom of the salary ladder. Anyone involved in teaching, training, mentoring, or rescuing children gets payed extremely little. Child and family studies? Mid-career your pay averages between $29,500 and $38,400. Elementary education? $44,400, if you're lucky.
You know why? Because society screams this message:
"Our children are our future!"
And while that sounds glamorous and glorious, while that looks like a catchy little phrase that sums up the value of children nicely, it makes me want to scream back:
"No! Children can make a difference now!"
You know why fields involving children are low-paying? Because children are not the "in" thing. Children are not important today. Children do not matter until the future. Children are not today, they are tomorrow.
The highest paying jobs all involve high levels of mathematics and most of them are in fields in either engineering or technology. Why? Because looks around you, technology is the focus of the century. Engineering and mathematical sciences lead the charts. Those fields may also produce results in the future but they are so relevant to today, they are everywhere today, they are important to society today.
But let us imagine this. Take away every teacher. Every social worker. Every counselor, psychologist, and child advocate. Take away the people involved with public relations and take away the child therapists. Take away the kindergarden teacher and take away the babysitter. Take away the youth group leaders and take away the children's ministry.
While you're at it, you might as well just take away the children.
What are you left with? A whole bunch of scientists, engineers, and mathematicians. Who all have their own place, don't get me wrong. These people are definitely needed in society.
But a world without educators means a world without learning. A world without social workers means a world without justice. A world without art teachers is a world without color and creativity. A world without mentors is a world without direction. A world without counselors is a world without comfort.
And a world without children is not going to last long.
This does not only happen in secular society. This happens in the church. Separate the children. Water down stuff for the children. A lot of churches have no ministry opportunities for the children. Pastors for children? Nonsense. Special small groups for children? No way. Children are not ready yet. Children need to grow up.
Just throw a bunch of toys at them and pop in VeggieTales and they'll be happy for an hour so their parents might learn something in the "big people" service.
Ask these churches about their children and I can almost guarantee that many of them will reply:
"Oh! We love children! Children are the future of our church."
No! Children are the church. Now. Today. Do you know what I've seen?
I've seen a Honduran worship service with an eight year old drummer.
I've seen Thai kids dancing and praising the Lord right next to the adults.
Did you know all over the world small groups are led by children their age? We're talking ten year olds here.
Children speak in tongues, children heal people, children preach, children want to learn. And children need to be trained and taught and cared for. They need to be encouraged and held to high standards.
Someone needs to fight for them, some one needs to give them a voice, someone needs to empower them.
Someone needs to tell them that their value is not only in the future, that they are valuable today. That they matter now. That they can make a difference before they turn eighteen.
I am sick and tired of how society has turned backwards. I am sick and tired of how children are left out of the church. I am sick and tired of how anyone that remotely considers working with children is told, "You know that job doesn't pay much right?"
America needs a wake up call. The western church needs a wake up call. Because other countries are getting it. People have figured it out.
Hitler got it.
The LRA understood it.
It's time for the church to grasp it. It's time for society to get it.
Children make a difference. Today and now.
And I know that you might be making billions throwing your football around or acting for the newest feature film or programming a new computer program, but the teacher or the counselor or the social worker or the stay-at-home mom sitting next to you on minimum pay has got a very special reward waiting in heaven.
"Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'"
-Matthew 19:14
"Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, and walked in the ways of David his father; and he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left."
-2 Chronicles 34:1-2
