In my big disappointment after having my iPod, radio, and other things stolen from my vehicle yesterday I entered the police station ready to provide great detail about the losses. I felt downright VIOLATED! How could someone have snuck into MY world and left loaded with MY things without consequence? I felt charged and determined that I was going to pursue this issue to the end. I was sure someone there at the station would care deeply about my situation. How could they not?
I entered with this enormous chip on my shoulder. I asked the first officer I saw if I could file a police report. He gave me a sheet of paper and a pen and asked me to write down my name, phone number, and what I lost. I took great time and detail to describe my belongings. What did I get in return? A tongue lashing for writing too much detail and a lecture on not leaving things in my vehicle. OK. Fair enough... at least in terms of the latter. But I must admit there was a real spirit of indignation that came over me at that time.
And then through the doors burst several police officers with a woman in cuffs and a girl in tears. I turned quickly to get a better view of what was happening. The girl, maybe 13 years old, was limping and holding her arm in pain. She had been beaten severely by the woman who was in cuffs. There were marks everywhere. On her head, face, hands, arms, legs, and maybe elsewhere. All made by a metal pipe and a broom stick which had been broken in the process. She sat down in a chair behind a table and laid her head on her arms. Her limbs were trembling and her face was in anguish. I tried to ask someone what will happen to her, but the commotion was too much. In a moment of sudden silence I asked if someone would take her to the hospital. I could not understand the responses, so I asked again.
As a few officers seemed to motion to her to go to the door, I met her in her stumbling steps. I tried to comfort her and offer help, but the confusion of the situation was a bit much. So, I just rubbed her upper back to show that someone there cared about her pain. I asked her if I could help her, and she whispered quietly that she "didn't know." She limped outside towards a vehicle, and then she was gone. I really hope she was getting a ride to the hospital. I will assume she did.
After things settled down, I asked an officer what happened. She said, "the woman was claiming that the girl stole her night shirt, and woke her up to beat her for it." It's hard to imagine how a shirt would hold so much value that someone would beat a child to the point of leaving significant holes in her skin, probably broken bones, welts everywhere, and only God knows what damage was done to her heart in the process.
Compared to my loss of material possessions, this is so much more important. Man, how could I complain about being violated?!? The loss of this girl's sense of safety, security, love - if she ever had those things to begin with - now that is something to get upset about. An iPod can be replaced. How many more children are out there experiencing the same thing right now even as I type? Ah, who cares about the iPod. Really.
Please join me in praying for this child.
