Reunited at Last!

Ninety-seven children from Chad are home after five months separated from their families. Six French charity workers took these kids, thinking they were Darfur refugees and tried to smuggle them out of the country, along with six other children.

The aid workers have since been sentenced to eight years in jail for attempted kidnapping.

Finally, after months of living in an orphanage in Abeche, the little ones are home. (Click here to read the full CNN report.)

What was not discussed in the article is the amount of trauma the experience has had on the children.

Think about it-to be taken from your family; forced to adjust to life in an orphanage never knowing if you're ever going home; to the confusion of suddenly being sent back to your family. These children have been through so much. Many had grown attached to their care givers in the orphanage, as well. Another loss in their little lives.

That's not even delving into the feelings of loss and disappointment some of the parents have felt in the past five months. Remember, some of the parents were told their children would get a good education, cars, money...the chance for a better life.

While I am sure the heart of any parent would be overjoyed at seeing their little one again, the pragmatic issues of care and adjustment are huge.

One can only hope and pray these children grow up healthy despite the trauma they have suffered. Part of the punishment for the jailed aid workers is to pay each child $87,000 each. That should take care of the family's physical needs, but money cannot salve the wounds in the hearts of the children and parents.

The overzealous aid workers have unfortunately caused more harm than good. In previous posts, I discuss why I understand how it is possible to get carried away by the enormous tidal wave of human suffering. Take a moment to peruse these posts if you have the time.  (French Arrested for Kidnapping)

The silver lining to this cloud is that these families have been reunited...

No matter how much adjusting the families will have to do now, at least they have each other to get through it.

Nothing can ever replace the love and care of a family.