Child abuse

On Monday, Billy didn't have his homework and when the teacher asked him why?

He said, "Because a monster ripped it up, after I told him a lie."

“You know monsters don't exist, and if you don't turn in your homework no recess you will get."

On Tuesday, Billy had a stomachache and when the teacher asked him why?

He said, "A monster took away my dinner, even my cherry pie."

“Billy, I've told you once before, monsters are not real. You'll have to wait till lunchtime before you get a meal."

On Wednesday, Billy had a bandage, which covered his right eye. When the teacher asked him how it happened, this was his reply:

"A monster was running after me when I ran into the door:"

"Billy please," the teacher said, “I don't want to hear any more."

On Thursday, Billy refused to sit down, and when the teacher asked him why?

Billy said, "A monster whipped my bottom, because I started to cry,"

"Billy," said the teacher, this is getting out of hand. And if you continue with these stories, in the corner you will stand.”

On Friday, Billy didn't come to school, and the teacher found out why, she said a little prayer to God in hopes Billy would survive.

For a monster had beaten Billy and threatened him with a knife.

Now Billy lay in a hospital bed, fighting for his life.

So listen and please remember, that monsters are for real.

Listen closely to kids' stories, and a wounded heart you may heal !!!!!

A PRAYER FOR THE CHILDREN OF VIOLENCE

We pray for the children

who sneak Popsicles before supper,

who erase holes in math workbooks,

who can never find their shoes.

And we pray for those who 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 children who bring us sticky kisses and fistfuls of dandelions,

who hug us in a hurry and forget their lunch money.

And we pray for those who 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 children who 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,

who 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 and scream in the phone,

whose tears we sometimes laugh at

and whose smiles can make us cry.

And we pray for those whose 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 children who want to be carried and for those who must,

who we never give up on

and for those who don't get a second chance.

For those we smother and . . .

for those who will grab the hand of anybody kind enough to offer it.

In Memory of........

Natalie Brooks, student age 12
Paige Ann Herring, student age 12
Stephanie Johnson, student age 12
Brittany R. Varner, student age 11
Shannon Wright, Teacher age 32

This is in memory of the children and teacher killed in the shooting on Tuesday, March 24, 1998 in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

for children all over the world: they are our future and one of GOD'S GREATEST GIFTS!