It was a disturbing phone call I wasn't expecting while high in the beautiful, snowy Colorado mountains. I was there Jeeping with my son on an old trail first cut from the rocks by miners back in the 1880s.
My mind was on the stunning beauty of God's creation.
The ring of the cell phone startled me.
Normally, I try to avoid such contact with the real world while away on these escapes.
It was one of my teenage daughters, sobbing, which immediately brought the Jeep to a halt.
"Daddy, I've found a little girl and I want to adopt her," she said.
"What?!" I asked, further surprised by the call.
"Daddy, I'm here at Childhaven with my school group, and I've met this little girl, and she is sooo cute and adorable, and she won't let go of me, Daddy. She keeps tugging on my leg."
More sobs, as she continued to cry into the phone.
"Daddy, they said I'm the only one she's talked to, and she keeps telling me not to go and to stay and play with her. Daddy, can't we please adopt her?"
That was my own little girl on the phone.
I'm sure she fully expected me, 150 miles north and almost a mile further up in the sky, to say "sure."
Nevertheless, I was moved myself that my daughter had visited Childhaven and was so touched.
***
Childhaven is a place of hope.
It is almost impossible for me to comprehend how anyone cannot love a child. Children are by far one of God's greatest gifts to us, and when is there a better time than today to fully realize such a gift?
Look around you.
What is more beautiful than a child's smile or laughter or excitement?
And sadly, what is more tragic than a child's sullen frown, withdrawn demeanor or tragic scars from the wrongdoing of an adult?
One of the most horrible crimes that can be committed is that of taking away the innocence or happiness of a child.
Fortunately, there are those who are willing to help restore some measure of joy.
"Childhaven's vision is to improve the plight of child victims of abuse and abandonment so that they may have the opportunity to achieve their full potential," reads the mission statement.
Improve the plight.
Abuse and abandonment.
Opportunity to achieve.
Those are big words when you look into little faces.
***
Our local chapter of Childhaven provides a wide variety of services.
Often, the best way to help a child is to help a parent. There are those who do wrong to their children and become desperate to correct their ways and be a better parent. The love is there, but other tools and attitudes needed to be a good parent must be cultivated. Sometimes, Childhaven can help.
A child's safety and wellbeing, however, is the greatest priority.
Childhaven's emergency shelter was created in 1969. It is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and it is available for immediate placement of youth from birth through 17 who are abused, neglected or abandoned.
The shelter provides food, clothing, medical attention, educational assistance, transportation and weekly therapy.
Each year, it provides care to more than 350 children in need, including more than 6,000 nights of care.
Volunteers play a critical role.
Among the greatest needs are volunteers to help with fundraising events, helpers to serve as a receptionist after hours, direct care with children, and often there is a need for board members or other administrative helpers.
Foster care is an important function assisted by Childhaven, and there always is a need for qualified homes to open their doors to children in need of love and attention.
More information on how to help can be found at Childhaven's Web site, childhavennm.org.
***
I've visited Childhaven on several occasions over the years.
Most often, I was touched in the same way as my daughter.
It only takes the look of one special child to break your heart, or to fill it with joy. And every child is special.
We didn't try to adopt that particular little girl that so moved my daughter.
But we did adopt the special spirit that was captured that day.
Take time out today to let your own mind wander, as mine did that day in the mountains, to admire the stunning beauty of God's creation.
You need look no further than the nearest child.
Childhaven always needs volunteers and cash donations. To learn more about how you can help:
807 West Apache St.
Farmington, N.M. 87401
505-325-5358
www.childhavennm.org
Troy Turner is the editor of The Daily Times. He can be contacted at P.O. Box 450, Farmington, N.M., 87499; or at tturner@daily-times.com.
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