In June 2009, Broken Hearts of the Big Bend held a gathering in Tallahassee called “Unite for Eliza.” We gathered to pray for the life of Eliza Huff, who was then awaiting a double-lung/heart transplant at Shands Children’s Hospital. At the request of Eliza’s mother, Sara, Eliza’s Aunt Mindy (Sara’s sister) read this poem at our gathering.
That was the thing about Sara and Eliza, and their family. No matter what was going on, it seemed, they were always watching out and praying for others in trying or tragic circumstances and situations. I can say that about so many of our parents, and especially Sharon, Jennifer and Ashley, Dawn and Tim, KimH. They, including Sara, still reach out to others in need.
Eliza died Dec. 26, 2009 after long, hard-fought battle for her life. I still pray for Eliza. And, I Pray for Children. This poem has stayed with me ...
We Pray for Children . . .By Ina J. Hughes
We pray for childrenwho sneak popsicles before supper,who erase holes in math workbooks,who can never find their shoes.
And we pray, for thosewho stare at photographers from behind barbed wire,who can’t bound down the street in a new pair of sneakers,who never “counted potatoes,”who are born in places where we wouldn’t be caught dead,who never go to the circus,who live in an X-rated world.
We pray for childrenwho bring us sticky kisses and fistfuls of dandelions,who hug us in a hurry and forget their lunch money.
And we pray for thosewho never get dessert,who have no safe blanket to drag behind them,who watch their parents watch them die,who can’t find any bread to steal,who don’t have any rooms to clean up,whose pictures aren’t on anybody’s dresser,whose monsters are real.
We pray for childrenwho spend all their allowance before Tuesday,who throw tantrums in the grocery store and pick at their food,who like ghost stories,who shove dirty clothes under the bed,and never rinse out the tub,who get visits from the tooth fairy,who don’t like to be kissed in front of the carpool,who squirm in church or temple and scream in the phone,whose tears we sometimes laugh atand whose smiles can make us cry.
And we pray for thosewhose nightmares come in the daytime,who will eat anything,who have never seen a dentist,who aren’t spoiled by anybody,who go to bed hungry and cry themselves to sleep,who live and move, but have no being.
We pray for childrenwho want to be carried and for those who must,for those we never give up onand for those who don’t get a second chance.for those we smother . . .and for those who will grab the hand of anybodykind enough to offer it.
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