Run Away

The phone range, it was 8:00 in the morning. Jume, the Social Worker at Sanrak Children's Home was on the other end. "We cannot find Bhat - he has run away!" I was not overly concerned at first - I have experience with run away children. I remember one time one of my daughters ran away. We didn't even notice she was gone until she returned an hour later - very indignant that we had not sent out a search party! So, when I learned that nine year old Bhat had run away, I was not too worried.

Half an hour later I got another phone call - they had spotted Bhat on the main road heading into the city. He was already four miles from home! He recognized the car and took off running before the staff could get out of the car and catch him. Nat, one of our house parents, took off after him, dodging rush hour traffic on this very busy road. Now, I began to panic! This was not simply a ploy to get attention. He was serious about running away, and committed to succeeding. This was different.

Bhat had just returned to Ban Sanrak from a two week visit with his Mom. During the school break we try to get all the kids back to their villages to visit whatever family they may have. Some of our kids have no place to go, but for those who do we work hard to keep them connected with family. Bhat had not seen his Mom in over two year, even though she was living in Chiangmai during part of that time. For two years she had not even called even to Bhat on the phone, much less come visit! The last time Bhat went home to visit his Mom she had promised us she would personally take care of him. Instead, she shipped Bhat off to an uncle who was a serious alcoholic. Bhat spent two weeks living alone in a small bamboo shack behind his uncle's house with no one looking after him. This time we were much more forceful in getting assurances from the Mom that she would keep Bhat with her at all times - thankfully she did.

Every child in the world needs to know that they are loved. Not just loved in general by someone - they need to know they are loved by their mother. It is the way God made us. It is one of the deepest needs in every human being - a need most of us are oblivious to because we have a mother who has loved us well as only a Mom can! Bhat was desperate to know his Mom's love - his whole identity and worth depended on it. Having your Mom for two weeks out of ten years is not enough. Bhat was on a mission - to find his Mom and to know her love for him.

The truth is, the staff at Ban Sanrak have given Bhat huge daily doses of love. They have cared for him and loved him as their own since he was four years old. They were frantic to find him, because they loved him so much! But, when you sense that your own mother does not love you it casts a great shadow of doubt over all other loves. If my own mother does not love me, why would any one else? How long will it be before they throw be away as well?

After two very anxious hours of searching and chasing, Nat was finally able to catch up with Bhat and detain him long enough for us to go pick them up. It was a relief that he was safe and in our care again, but that did not solve the real issues that led to his flight. Bhat was like a caged cat - frantic to escape and find his mom!

In the days that followed we were able to meet with his mom, and we challenged her to take steps to show Bhat they she truly did care about him. We would love nothing more than to return Bhat to his mom  to live with her fulltime. But, we also have a duty to ensure that Bhat is safe and well cared for. The story is still unfolding, but ever since Bhat ran away his mom has been coming every Saturday to visit Bhat and spend time with him! This is a huge first step. We are working toward the day when she is willing and able to take Bhat home with her - permanently!

Things would be much simpler if we severed all contact between the children and their extended families. When we send the kids home they almost always come back a mess. Their fragile and vulnerable hearts are easily broken by the fresh reminders that their mom's are not there for them. But, our ministry is not only to children. We are called to minister to families - to the moms and dad's who also need to know God mercy and healing grace. We are here to restore families and bring healing to broken lives, not just to rescue children, or make ourselves feel good by collecting orphans.

Not only do we all need to know that our mom loves us, we are also desperate to know that our Father loves us as well. A mother's love lays the foundation for us to grasp the Father's love. But sadly, we are too often found running away from the Father. We have come to believe that our worth and the measure of who we are is best determined by things, by human relationships, by self-glory, through selfish ambition, and by fulfilling our own desires. We pursue these things, thinking they will bring joy to our lives, not realizing we are running the wrong direction.

There was never a more noble cause for running away than the deep longing that motivated Bus to find his mom! Oh, that I would have such a desire to find the Father's love, and to know that I am His dearly loved child! He offers His perfect love. To what extent are we searching for it?