how did we get here?

Last night I was thinking about all of the people in this world we "throw away." Two things brought me to these thoughts: first, the book I am currently reading (Piece of Cake by Cupcake Brown) and second, my grandmother's recent adventure of back surgery and rehab. The two sets of people I am seeing as being tossed aside are children (especially those "in the system") and the elderly.

First, children. Piece of Cake is an autobiography. Cupcake lived quite a fast and hard life in her early years, mostly due to failures of the foster system. As I have been reading this book, I keep thinking that this can't possibly be true; it can't really happen like this. A child cannot be returned, over and over again, to someone she has accused multiple times of beating her - especially when there was physical proof! But it happens. I know it does. And it breaks my heart. How many children today suffer this fate? How many unwanted, unloved, broken children walk around the streets today? 11 year old prostitutes trying to do anything to make some money so they don't have to go back to a home where they are being continually raped and beaten...really makes me want to cry.

The other piece of this that I don't understand is the foster parents. Ben and I are in the process of being certified as foster parents, and really - you don't get much money. I can't understand why someone would bring children into their home for the purpose of beating them. I mean, you still have to feed them (something) and put on a show for the social workers, so why waste your time? And the social workers - I for one would be pretty suspicious of someone with 8 children whose house is spotless. That's just not possible.

All of this scares me a little as I get ready to start my MSW program. If the system is really that screwed up, how I will handle that? Will I become jaded, or just bitter and depressed that I can't do what I feel is right because of all the red tape? And how do you reach kids like this - how do you gain their trust when their lives have been so shattered?

But on to the second piece: My grandmother was admitted last week to a nursing home/rehab facility to recover from back surgery. Now granted, she has got to be just about the toughest 91 year old around, but the way she has been treated is so sad. Because of her age, everyone seems to assume that she is not mentally competent or capable of speaking for herself. Bringing her meals does not seem to be a priority. Having towels in the bathroom is apparently a luxury, not standard. Luckily for Grandma, she is capable and was able to rectify many of these issues herself, but what about the stroke victim in the bed next to her? Who will stand up for her?

Why have we thrown away our parents, our grandparents? Once they become a little frail and senile, we (as a society) ship them off to a nursing home somewhere. And then, so often (too often) the care is so substandard. With all the money and wealth in this country, when we send our families away to be cared for by someone else, shouldn't they at least get decent care?

So my question is, what is our priority, as a society, since it is clearly not each other, clearly not the "least" among us? Obvious answers would be money, power, riches, wealth, fame. When did the things we possess become more important than people? Why don't we care to take care of those who cared for us when we were vulnerable? And why don't we care to take care of those with no one to look out for them?

Today I pray that God strengthen my heart and the hearts of those working with children in need and the elderly. Lord, help them to raise awareness and open eyes and help us all to share your amazing grace and love. Amen.