I was an abused child at a very young age and then again as a teenager. I thank Jesus for delivering me from the spiral that it sent me on, and for helping me to forgive my abusers. HE truly is good, and only HE can take a shattered heart and turn it in to something that is functional, when all it ever knew was dysfunction.
There is a teen girl that rides my bus, and she has a natural beauty that stands out, but she never smiles, I have never heard her voice, and rarely I see her face. She looks at the ground with her head hung, and my heart just wants to rescue her from what ever or who ever is causing her pain. She doesn’t socialize with anyone. She has a brother that is the same way(he rides my bus too, but a different school). They come from a very wealthy neighborhood, and are always dressed well, but their pain screams loudly although silent.
Today I dropped the boy off, and I saw the father in the driveway, I watched a young boy fall apart just seeing him. I prayed “please, help these children”, and “please don’t let me get off this bus and put a whoopin’ on this man” Sometimes it is so hard to be close to pain that I know all too well. But today HE reminded me that HE will deliver them, just like me. HE reminded me of the verses that helped me to stand back up and turn and look HIM in the face. Matthew 18:5,6 “Who ever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” Adults will pay for what they have done to children(unless they repent). Mathew 19:14 “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” These verses are my Jesus speaking. How very awesome HE is. I believe with all my heart that the day is not far off when HE will return, and every knee will bow before HIM, even if HE has to break the leg. I want to do it willingly. Tonight I am very content to just sit wrapped up in HIM, and feel HIS safety, and know HIS love and how very much HE cares. I love that HE cares for this family I mentioned. Praying for their safety, and for God to intervene, and show me what I can do to help them. So much sadness in eyes that have never left their home…babies…we are all at God’s mercy, and HE extends it to us daily. How precious is the child in the eyes of God, how it must break HIS heart when they are abused, how longsuffering HE is to not just wipe out this planet in all its corruption.
Father God, My heart is bowed to you, you are in control of everything even though you hand us over to our desires when we are not obedient to you. My plea tonight is for the children who are constantly facing an angry world, unloving parents, and forced to live in prejudices, and rebuke. They are not able to take care of their selves, but you are able to care for them. Please hold them tonight and let them know you are there. I place them back in your hands again, and I thank you that nothing escapes you, and no one will crawl past your judgement seat unseen. Change this mans heart, and show them your Glory! Thank you for being so detailed in our lives, and I love the shades when you drive the bus! 🙂
ponderings of a princess... 
I am so sorry about your abuse as a child. And I am glad you are an overcomer in spite of that evil! Please be a soft and kind influence…a voice of love…to these children. They need your prayers and your smile. Amazing what God can use to heal a broken heart! I’ve heard that women who have been abused have a hard time sitting in the lap of Jesus because they just can’t trust Him. But if you can ever get them to see a person or thing in their time of abuse that was God’s Love in their lives…it helps them to heal. Sometimes it might be a kind teacher…a sweet dear pet…or possibly even the smile of a busdriver! I’m glad God has placed you where He can use you as an encouragement.
It did take me a long time to trust Jesus, but now you can not pull me away from HIM! 🙂
He does heal the wounds and we don’t need to wear our battle scars like flags…HE does show a willing heart where HE was in all of it, and HE does promise to give us life that is abundant in HIM. I can testify to the power of a risen savior! God is good all the time!
Princess,
Thank you for being so transparent. I’m so sorry about your abuse, but I praise God for the victory you have found. I will certainly pray for these children and for you as you minister to them. They have no idea that they are in the presence of Jesus shining through you!!
You are truly a Princess!!
Leah
http://www.thepoint-leah.blogspot.com
This is the same thing I was faced with when i taught in elementary. And our hands are tied – but our hearts and prayers are not! Like you, I related all to well with these young ones. I can spot an abused child miles away. How blessed they are to have you Darla! Praise God for putting you on their bus! God, you are totally breath taking – thank you Lord!
oh how this breaks my heart…I too know the inside of the walls of a home that were anything but safe and comforting. I can identify with that girl who hung her head – feeling hopeless. God has picked me up and is putting me back together again…oh I will pray. I am so sorry for what you went through – there is not a drop of that on you now – God has done amazing things in your heart – your life is such a testament to Him…your words so encouraging. You have a beautiful heart – I am so thankful God put you in the path of these precious children and their family – to lift them up in prayer before the thrown of God. I am so thankful for your blog…have a great night – Sunshine
Darla,
What a blessing you are to these children, lifting them to God when perhaps noone else is. And not only them, but their parent as well. I will join you in praying for this broken family. I also will say a prayer for you, dear Darla. He sees us and loves us-just sometimes, it feels like it’s from very far away.
Kathy
I pray for you my friend, what a joy you are and I pray that in my childrens lives there will be a Darla for them. love you Dolla my precious usa friend
I too was abused in my childhood, by my father. When I read that you saw this man as you dropped them off, I felt a butt-kickin coming on too! I too have had the Lord heal my wounds, though it took years. I can honestly say from my heart that I am thankful for the wisdom gained through pain. It enables me to spot these wounded souls and let the Lord love them through me. What an honor. Abuse as you well know is soul murdering, stripping all trust and I know how God feels about it. Your ministry is on that bus and I will lift those two up to our Father and plead with Him to show them Hope through you. The other four are in my prayers also. It is an honor to pray for them as I know the wall of shame that goes before them each day and I pray that God kicks these parents to their knees for forgiveness.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being Gods Light to their dark worlds. May the chains be broken this season. Your heart shines like a star and you are so loved by our Heavenly Father and by me. May God pour out so many blessings on you this week that you get drenched:)!! Our healing continues as we reach out in His Love.
Laurie in Ca.
This has gotten me really angry. Can’t you report your suspicions to a social worker or to a teacher? Don’t you actually have an obligation to do so. Perhaps someone in a position to intervene will actually provide some genuine assistance to these children.
Prayer may make you feel better and help you to recover from the pain that you have experienced but surely a more terrestrial approach would be of more help.
hey Hover, I already did tell the authorities my suspicions…and the school is already keeping an eye on things..thanks for caring!
Happy talk like a pirate day! Arrrrrrrrr!
I’m so thankful that God placed you in their path. They are greeted by a smile each day and I’m sure that at some point, that young girl is going to look up into your eyes and catch a glimpse of HOPE.
Praying for you!
stephanie
Darla dear that is quite the ministry you have. I too can spot an abused child miles away without a word. I wanted to take them all home with me when I worked at school. When my hubby and I fought for his daughter for 6 years, we proved sexual abuse, drug use and other horrors, and still the court continued to give them to the mom. Hov, it’s not always that easy…… But you’re right Darla, God is faithful and will hold these kiddos….love you girl!
I remember our conversations about why God was leading you to get your “bus” license. I can see it all now laying out. All because of your obedience to Him and His call. Just think about all these things you have been able to write about. There is no telling who is in the lives of these and God is building a prayer wall up around them. These precious children we do not know. It is so amazing He cares so much about them to bring them to our attention. Far be it for us to sin against God by not lifting them up in prayer atleast one time and what a pleasing aroma our prayers are to our Lord who will be there to keep them safe.
I admire your walk and obedience and all you have overcome!
Much love,
Angela
D, I see it over and over again in my children’s friends. You KNOW something horrible is going on. Sometimes, it is confirmed by one of my children. I do several things. 1) I pray for deliverance for the child and, because it IS biblical, I pray for God to punish the abuser in His way and (much to my dismay) His time; 2) I have let my children know that if one of their friends ever comes to our home having clearly been abused, beaten, etc., I WILL get involved. 3) I talk to my children about what may be going on in a child’s life that causes them to act the way they do. Some are very clingy, clearly not receiving love and affection at home and wanting to hang on to anyone/anything. Some treat their friends (my children included) horribly. Some just don’t care, are depressed, angry, violent. I pray that it gives them compassion and empathy for the plight of others and the desire to help them, love them and pray for them.
I’ve been there. And I know.
I’m sorry you have been there and experienced it first hand, as well. A kind word, lots of prayer and alerting authorities when you see clear evidence will help.
It is amazing how the Lord puts us in the place He wants us. I’m amazed as I read your posts about how the Lord uses you as you drive the bus. You may be the one who makes a difference in these children you wrote about as well as all the others. We may read a testimony some day from one of these children and how you made the difference in their lives. Maybe not. I see you as doing all you do as unto the Lord.
Blessings in Christ–
Wow. How easily I could STILL relate to this!
and I’ll be 27yrs old!
Mom made pancakes this morning, told me to have some, there were 5 on the small plate so I got out another one, so I wouldn’t take them all.
Mom saw it and said, ” You A%$ H*L@, use the dish they are on!
( it makes me just think back…oh, the memories.)
I feel for those kids, I really do, you just keep shining Jesus in front of them girlie!