Read Jeremiah 31:10-17
A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children. — Jeremiah 31:15 (NRSV)
After a seminar at an inner city church, I met a ten-year-old boy. “What’s your name?” I asked him.
“Matthew,” he replied.
“Do you know what your name means?” He shook his head. “It means ‘gift of God.’ Go home and tell your mother that you are a gift of God.”
“I can’t do that, sir, because my mother is dead. She was shot a year ago. I saw the man shoot her.”
I told him how sorry I was and said I would pray for him. But I cannot forget the deep sadness in his face. He seemed numb, as if his mother’s death was just the way of things. There was nothing he could do. I thought of Jeremiah, watching his people march into exile and imagining that he could hear Rachel weeping for her suffering children.
I realized that I am called to weep for the children and join with those who care about them. Together, we can reach out to the young “gifts of God” like Matthew and comfort them in their loss and sadness.
PRAYER: God of compassion, you weep for your children. Help us to see their sadness and to let them know that they are your gifts to us. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
How can we comfort the children who have been wounded?
Bass Mitchell (Virginia)
PRAYER FOCUS: Children who have witnessed violence