Eat your beans! There are children in this world who'd give anything to have those!" What child hasn't heard that kind of speech coming from parents who love them enough to encourage good nutrition?

Actually, millions of children have never heard that line--children who wouldn't recognize a good meal if they saw one, who live on the streets instead of in a house, who'll never see the inside of a school.

According to one estimate, 100 million children worldwide have no mom or dad to give them a meal and a place to call home. These kids are outcasts and treated as trash to be discarded.

This sobering fact should cause us to take a different approach. If we have the comforts that a good job and a modern society offer through God's graciousness, we should not cite examples of starving children as a way to get our kids to eat. We should try to help the starving children instead.

The hurting children of the world need two things: First, the gospel of Jesus, who told us that in helping them we would be doing His work (Mk. 9:37). And second, they need the hope that comes from someone who cares enough to feed, clothe, and shelter them.

What can your family do to help the children?  — Dave Branon