If you put a globe in front of me, I wouldn’t be able to tell you the location of the city of Misrata.
Here’s a clue: it’s in Libya.
Here’s something else you don’t want to know about Misrata: according to the United Nation’s agency, UNICEF, there are many and reliable reports coming out of that town which say snipers are targeting, shooting and killing children.
We’re not talking about a child stepping on a landmine or a child who is shot by accident. Those tragedies are bad enough.
We’re talking about children being used as targets. In what twisted system of thinking can such a thing be considered, let alone justified?
How sad the Lord must be to see what humanity does to itself. He created a perfect world and we ruined it. Indeed, every good and perfect gift He bestows upon us is bent, folded, spindled and mutilated.
Not even children manage to escape.
In contrast to what the world does, we have a Savior who welcomes children, a Redeemer who picks them up in His arms and blesses them, a risen Christ who instructs one disciple — all disciples — to feed His lambs, to take care of these children for whom He lived and died.
Jesus’ words to take care of His little ones are especially important now.
Those words are of special significance because, in part, these are our children and this is our time to pass on the torch of faith that previous generations have handed to us.
But there is more. We who have been given charge of the lambs need to recognize our diligence must match and exceed that of the world.
Be sure of this: if we wish to rest, the pornographer will stay awake. If we have no time for our children, the drug pusher will make time. If we let the unsupervised TV be the babysitter, immoral programs will be glad to teach your little ones with one questionable show after another.
You see, here, too, our children are targets.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, send Your Holy Spirit upon us so we may feed, care for and love the lambs in our charge. Grant us the wisdom to give them the tools they need to stand firm in the faith, to stand strong in the salvation You have won. In Your Name. Amen.