Forced to see beyond me.

Okay, so by now you all know I LIKE to read. I would read above watching tv, playing video games, reading e-mail and sometimes I read instead of eating (well, I eventually eat, but sometimes several hours late).

Well, yesterday I read a book that will remain unnamed because you DON'T need to read it. I shouldn't have read it to the end, but once I get to a certain point in a book there's no turning back and I needed to know about the end or I would conjure up my own images/endings. Let's suffice it to say it opened my eyes to a world I knew was out there, but have chosen to ignore for over twenty years.

You see I've been married to a wonderful man for those twenty years and he has made my life easy. The first twenty years of my life were not that way, which is why I have chosen to ignore the evil of the world.  I don't watch the news because I don't want to know that people are being abused and/or dying at the hand of their fellow man/woman.

But yesterday's book opened my eyes to see, yet again, the depravity of the human race. So I am going to be proactive. The contents could bring me down, but I refuse to let it. Instead I am going to pray for all those who are in situations beyond their control. Pray with me, won't you?

Father, God, we love you and we thank you for the lives you have given us, for comfort, security, safety, food, shelter and so much more.
I pray now for all those who don't have the benefit of these simple things. I pray for those who are in abusive relationships - either spousal, or parental. Give them your peace, your love, your comfort, and an extra measure of protection.
Father, I pray for those who are in a prison of fear, where they can't escape and feel no hope. Give them your hope - the hope of Jesus. Send your angels to encamp around them, to hug them, so they may feel your love in a tangible way.
I pray for those who abuse. Touch the hurting places inside of them, the dark places that no one sees but you.
Father, I pray for those who strive to help the lost and hurting of this world. Let them not grow weary in the well-doing. Strengthen them, uplift them.
I pray for those who have gotten out of horrible situations, but are still ruled by the hurts and disappointments. Help them past these hurdles into a new and better life.
Lastly, God, I pray for those of us who have a good life, that we would remember to pray for those less fortunate, that we would be thankful for what we have and not grumble about that which we do not have. Give us all eyes to see and ears to hear. Amen.

As always, under HIS wings,

Ginger