It’s the morning after my longest night ever. My night was spent in the Children’s Hospital here in Colorado Springs. Our foster daughter just had brain surgery and we’re here recovering.

There was a lot going on in the hospital last night, besides our own child’s problems. I heard a code red issued and many feet went a running. My mind raced with ideas of what the code red was all about. More than likely it was a hurting child.

Spending the night here got me thinking about kids in pain, sick kids, abused kis. It’s hard to accept the fact that bad things do happen to good people, even kids and babies. I figure there are three types of people when it comes to this. Here they are:

1. Pretend Nothing Bad Happens To Children – If we ignore the problem it goes away, right? Nope. I’m also thinking that some people just don’t have the emotional threshold to deal with a child going through this sort of stuff. I know I was regretting coming in and seeing our own foster daughter in the state she was in, it’s rough.
2. Acknowledge That Bad Things Happen and Do Nothing – A quote from Elie Wiesel comes to mind “The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference.”
   • Someone else will take care of them.
   • It’s not my job.
   • I have enough on my plate as it is.

   Do something. Step up. Make a difference. Even if it’s something small. We all have special gifts and talents that allow us to lend a hand here or there. I promise you once you step up you will not regret it.

3. People that Act and Help Out – I spent the first 26 years of my life as a #2, I knew bad things happened but did nothing.  Why? I don’t know, mostly selfishness. It didn’t benefit me so I wasn’t going to do anything. I kick myself sometimes at the years I wasted, but then I quickly kick myself again and say you’re doing something now, so shut up and keep doing. It’s easy to beat ourselves up about what we do or don’t do to help out.

Bottom line: Which number are you now … and which number will you be this time next year? You have the power to control that, do something about it.