To Touch A Child

"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour."
Exodus 21:19

Mothering is a role I have always loved.  I am a biological mother, a step-mother, and a grand-mother.  I have also been room mother, foster mother and den mother.  So it is especially sad to me that there is a trend today to falsely accuse people of improper behavior with a child.  I am sure that much of it is justified.  But I am equally convinced that much of it is simply "tall tales", often generated by over zealous protection agencies.  

In working with small children in vacation bible school, I often find myself inclined to reach over and brush a strand of hair from a little girl's face, or touch her hair bow and compliment her on it, or hug a little boy who has scratched his knee on the concrete.  Yet I draw back, afraid of how it might look to others.  

I wonder who the biggest loser is here...we adults who really love children, or the children themselves, who hunger for a gentle touch or a kind word?

My prayer for today:  Guide us, Father, that we might honestly love, without being seen as perverted in our relationships with children.