My 11 year old is angry

They have a righteous anger that
Spits and weeps accusations
As it simmers beneath the surface.
Why wasn’t God there to save them
Or to change him?
All the times they prayed for help
When Daddy became demon?

My 11 year old is angry with God —
Prematurely and unnecessarily subjected
To lack of morality and consistent lapses in compassion
From those they need to trust most

Their tear-stained anger refuses communion
And occasionally eschews communities
Of people that speak too much of God’s love and power.
I mute my own tears and clenched teeth
In order to whisper that God is who
Whispered to them, giving them strength to stand up for truth and protection,
Provided and strengthened those of us who would become their safety net.
And also that I know it’s sometimes impossible to understand
How an all-knowing, all-powerful, all-loving God.
Doesn’t rescue a sincere supplicant from pain.

My 16 year old is angry

They have a righteous anger that
Spews at the news of liberties twisted
As despair simmers beneath the surface.
Why isn’t God there to save them
From proxies who won’t approximate care?
All the times they pray for respect
To grow fully into their own skin?

My 16 year old is angry with God
Prematurely and unnecessarily subjected
To false morality and consistent lapses in compassion
From those who wield power to erase their safety.

Their self-advocating anger refuses to be eschewed
And occasionally confronts communities
Of people who imply a certain smallness to God’s love and power.
It ties knots in my stomach
fuels the fire of my own belly anger
Against those who would
Repeatedly suggest that what’s true is wrong if it discomforts an adult,
That God is disappointed and angry
when one of His precious ones wrestles out from under
the bushel that was thrown carelessly over their light.

My child is angry
And has every right to be.
I can’t imagine that God is angry with them.
And I can’t imagine that God isn’t angry WITH them.