Carers

In the past few days, TV screens in the UK have shown footage of secret filming by the BBC of abuses in a Care Home for the physically and mentally challenged who only know this place as their 'home'. The subject is 'carers' but the perpetrators of the abuses shown cannot take that title. Carers earn their name, by the way they look after their charges, and the name is worthy to be given to many in the eyes of the wider family who trust their children and siblings and parents into their care.

I have some knowledge of local Care Homes. Both my elderly parents benefited from loving care given by paid staff. I have good and caring family who have been, and are still involved in the care of the less fortunate in later years. They would rightly be horrified at all and any abuse meted out to unsuspecting residents by so called 'care staff'. Thankfully, this kind of abuse, by these kinds of people, are few and far between, but that does mean we have an excuse to do nothing to make sure it cannot happen again.

Our culture and laws are based on Christian values, so we have a responsibility to the vulnerable in our society. Not necessarily to do the excellent work of 'hands on caring', but to watch where abuse happens, and stand up against it. Jesus described us as 'the salt of the earth' and warned us against losing our savour. Yes, we like the “God is Love” approach, but we should also be in fear of the same God who judges our actions, and inactions. Unless the ones guilty of this reported abuse repent (now there's an old word!), they will suffer a terrible punishment. I can still hear the words of a special and true carer saying, “If we don't speak up for them, who will”? Good question!

Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. Matt 25:40,46 (KJV)