When I was a little girl, my brother, sister and I would “play church” on Sunday afternoons. We’d get out the hymnal and my brother would prepare a sermon (usually involving how sisters weren’t supposed to pick on their brothers). If we were lucky, mom had some grape juice and crackers we could take “communion” with. We would play like this for hours and looking back it’s one of my favorite memories.

Our children at the Ranch have a very different take on playtime. Where I remember a thousand games involving pretend and imagination, our children’s playtime involves only things in reality such as a basketball game or fishing with Mr. Russ. You rarely see a lot of imagination in the children’s games today. “Make Believe” is an amazing gift God gives to children.  Unfortunately, children traumatized by abuse often have difficulty using their imaginations.  Their reality of a cruel and evil world robs them of this precious gift.   I didn’t have to wonder as a child where my next meal was coming from or whether my mom would come home that night, but our kiddos have experienced that countless times before coming to the Ranch. The more they worried the more adult they became and imagination just disappeared.

However, our kiddos are resilient and they are now in a safe, loving environment where they no longer have to worry. They can be kids again! A few weeks ago, on a Sunday afternoon, three of our boys came running into the kitchen asking for some grape juice and crackers. I helped them find some and watched from a distance as they listened to the sermon, took “communion,” and sang their hymnals with conviction. “Jesus loves me, THIS I KNOW!…” Our boys were using their imaginations, they’re able to be children again and they’re able to listen and take in the Word of God and know His love.