For a while now, I have observed one of the preschool-age boys in our village constantly punching and kicking his classmates. He always seems agitated and ready to fight. He is one of the smallest children in his peer group, and from what I have heard, his home life is chaotic. Because he likely never knows what will happen to him from one moment to the next, he is always in fight or flight mode. He doesn’t feel safe.

Recently, I was able to connect with this precious little guy and give him a hug and talk with him away from the other children. It was good to see him relax and connect without fear.

God created us for connection. Both science and faith teach us that in our relationships with others, we have a deep need to feel safe, to feel loved, and to feel that we are enough.

Lately, I have become more keenly aware of how powerful God’s love is at healing deep wounds. I believe that as disciples of Jesus, one of the most meaningful ways we can dispel the darkness in the world around us is to love others like Jesus. When any of His hurting children, young or old, experiences the healing power of God’s love through us and is able to connect without fear, then the power of darkness is broken. This is the war I want to fight.

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