All of Our Children

During the conflict in Sarajevo, Jim Wallis wrote about a reporter who was covering the war. One day, amid a battle, this reporter saw a little girl shot by a sniper. Of course, he threw down his pad and pencil, rushed to the man who was holding the child, and then helped them both into his car.

As the reporter took off for the hospital, the man holding the bleeding child said, “Hurry, my friend, my child is still alive.” A moment or two later, “Hurry, my friend, my child is still breathing.” A moment later, “Hurry, my friend, my child is still warm.” Finally, he called out, ”Hurry. Oh, God, my child is getting cold.”

By the time they got to the hospital, the little girl had passed. As the two men were washing the blood off their hands and their clothes, the man turned to the reporter and said, “This is a terrible task for me. I must go tell her father that his child is dead. He will be heartbroken.” The reporter was stunned. He looked at the grieving man and said, “I thought she was your child.” The man looked back and said, “No, but aren’t they all our children?”

I can’t help but think about yet another school shooting this week.  It is true. They are all our children. They are also God’s children, and God has entrusted us with their care.

Jesus once said, “Whatever you do to one of the least of these… you have done it to me.” (Matthew 25:40)

Let us pray. God of grace, you have created us in such a way that deep down, we are connected with all your children around the globe. People of every nation, speaking every language, and of every race are created and loved by you. As we open our hearts to them, may we also notice that we are opening our hearts to you. Fill us again with your love, that it would be ours to share. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.