My heart reached a whole new level of broken this week. However, it also found a whole new hope.

As I have shared before, I work in the front office of a psychologist's office. In addition to scheduling appointments and receiving client payments, I am the first impression the clients have of our community, be it over the phone or in office. In some cases, the clients trust me enough to give me a glimpse into why they have come to our office. I am stunned often by the gravity of the pain and hurt they are working through. Especially our youngest of clients.

On this past Wednesday, my heart had about reached its limits. I was angry at this world. These little ones deserved so much more. No child that young should have to be exposed to the cruelty of this world. This world is cruel and mean and broken and just downright sad. I felt everything within me beginning to tense up and harden. Then I heard my phone vibrate.

At my first break, I checked my phone. Upon reading the message, my heart began to soften. A beautiful new light had graced this world. My cousin had just given birth to a precious baby girl named, Addison Marie.

I thought about the irony of this world. In the midst of the muck and the mire of our fallen state, little joys are birthed every minute around the world. This Saturday, as I held ittle bitty Addison in my arms, the world seemed to stand still. Despite the hurt that existed around me, in my arms lay hope and a new beginning. She was small, but perfect. She was worth protecting. They are all worth protecting.

As Addison slept, I got a wake-up call. No I cannot change the lives of every single child around the world. But I can do my part to make this world that we live in a better, kinder, more beautiful place. We each come in contact with hundreds of people a day. Young ones to old ones. One random act of kindness, one word spoken in love, one counter-cultural shift in the way we interact with the world could make the difference in one person's life.

These precious little ones, like Addison, from around the world, make up the doctors, teachers, lawyers, potiticians, engineers, parents, grandparents and leaders of our tomorrow. The way we encounter them today will shape the way they lead our world tomorrow. We can simply ignore and exploit them, or we can protect, instruct, provide, encourage, inspire and empower them.

Our world can be better, but like any successful structure, it requires a strong foundation. We can build that foundation. For them. Take the time to see that child. Together we can build a better world for these precious ones, like Addison.