Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Dear God,

What drives us to strike out at one another?  What inspires us to crush and shatter?  What motivates us to kill? 

When children die because of hatred and revenge, we must ask ourselves in what religion, what faith gives permission and approval to destroy young human lives?  No matter the background, color, economic status, religious affiliation, gender or sexual orientation, every child is yours, unique, beautifully made, and precious in your sight.  Every child is a child of the living God.

O God, how can we not hurt for every child injured or killed?  How can we not want something better?  How can we not weep with great sorrow for even one that is destroyed?  Our hearts need to break every time one child is hurt.

We are a broken people, O Lord, every one of us.  We do not love as you love.  We do not give mercy as you give mercy.  We do not bless as you bless.  We all deserve to die; yet, your grace saves us.  You pour your grace on us at our conception, our birth, our living, and our dying.  You call us your own.  We sin, we crave something more, we forget who we are and so we hurt others.  Forgive us, Great Comforter.  Restore our humanity.  Renew our love for you and one another.  Remake us.  Put yourself within us.  Help our eyes to see what you see.  Help our hearts love who you love.  Help our souls fill with compassion and pour out to others.  Make us new, Lord, make us new.

Bless all
your children
who hurt today,
Gracious God.
Soothe them
with your
great compassion.
Heal them,
Great Physician.
Place your hand
upon them.
Anoint them
with your
oil of gladness,
I pray.

Love, Andrea