Prayers for our nation’s young people

(Children’s Defense Fund) – Amidst the final few weeks of calls for adults to vote right now for people and policies that will ensure children and young people’s well-being and joy, I share these prayers for all of our nation’s children and the country they need and deserve.A Prayer for ChildrenBy Ina J. HughsRelated Stories We pray for childrenwho put chocolate fingers everywhere,who like to be tickled,who stomp in puddles and ruin their new pants,who sneak popsicles before supper,who erase holes in math workbooks,who can never find their shoes.And we pray for thosewho stare at photographers from behind barbed wire,who’ve never squeaked across the floor in new sneakers,who never “counted potatoes,”who are born in places we wouldn’t be caught dead,who never go to the circus,who live in an X-rated world.We pray for childrenwho bring us sticky kisses and fistfuls of dandelions,who sleep with the dog and bury goldfish,who hug us in a hurry and forget their lunch money,who cover themselves with Band-aids and sing off key,who squeeze toothpaste all over the sink,who slurp their soup.And we pray for thosewho never get dessert,who watch their parents watch them die,who have no safe blanket to drag behind,who can’t find any bread to...