The Meaning of Child Protection

With just a few days to go until Christmas, many people ask if we still really understand the meaning of Christmas. And with reason. However, apart from struggling to recall the Christian sense behind Christmas, most people struggle on a much larger scale to see or care about what is happening to vulnerable children.

The combination of Christmas coming up and the work that I do regularly points my mind towards a song that has always had a great significance to me. I would like to share it with you here.

The song is in Dutch, written by Jules de Corte, an amazing singer/songwriter. He called it ‘Kerstliedje’ or ‘Christmas Song’, giving the whole thing an extra sting. Here is an English translation of his lyrics:

A child was born this night

in what stable I know not

no choirs of angels sang there

nor did a shepherd’s song sound

no wondrous light shining in the dark.

The father was far from pious

the mother certainly no virgin

he did not come here for us

no man asked for his coming

he may have to die of hunger.

In all the world no three wise men

searching for him from afar

not a single star shall rise

at least not in his honour

he will not receive gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Never shall he speak in the temple

with priests high and knowledgeable of God

never shall he perform a wonder

do not think he will do anything

that will make Bartholomew shout at him.

A child was born this night

In whom no one sees any good

he shall not disturb the peace

and certainly not the war

so no danger to our silver pieces.

What does it mean when you show outrage at the way Mary and the baby Jesus were treated, but have no problem throwing a pregnant Maria from Honduras in a jail cell or a put a toddler Jesus from El Salvador in a cage? What does it mean when you call yourself pro-life and do everything to protect a baby until the moment of birth, but are unwilling to do anything to provide the mother and child with affordable healthcare and community support from the moment the baby comes out or you condemn an unwed mother to the point where she feels forced to abandon her child?

Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, let’s try to take a moment to think about this. To realise that what we are talking about are not just numbers or just interesting psychological cases or just those fallen through the cracks of the failures of government. What we are talking about are CHILDREN.

Please share this post, to help make more people aware.