While I listened to Friday's news,
with shooting in the streets of Boston
between the marathon bombers and the authorities,
and the city locked down,
a reporter offered this advice for parents to comfort children with
who were being exposed to terror in this week's news cycle:
Look for the helpers.
It is Mr. Rogers' advice, and I saw it passed around on Facebook, too.
It seems not much comfort
in the light of people bleeding in the streets, their legs gone,
and parents powerless to save their children.
In the face of horrendous evil, brave kindness seems small:
the courage of those heroes who run to explosions,
who drench themselves in the blood of strangers,
trying to tie in their lifeflow.
But in the face of that bloody fear,
He gives real comfort:
He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you, nor forsake you.'
So that we may boldly say, 'The Lord is my Helper, I will not fear.
What can man do to me?' (Hebrews 13:5,6)
Maybe that seems like a foolish question after a bombing.
Obviously men can do us harm.
Jesus said, "I tell you, my friends,
do not be afraid of those who kill the body
but cannot afterward do anything worse.
I will show you whom to fear:
fear God, who, after killing, has the authority to throw into hell.
Believe me, He is the one you must fear!
Aren't five sparrows sold for two pennies?
Yet not one sparrow is forgotten by God.
Even the hairs of your head have all been counted.
So do not be afraid;
you are worth much more than many sparrows!"
(Luke 12:4-7)
Be anxious for nothing,
but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving,
let your requests be made known to God;
and the peace of God, which surpasses understanding,
will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
A terrorist can separate you from your body,
but cannot separate you from His love.
Our Lord is risen, and He will raise us.
He has conquered sin and death, and in Him, we are also conquerors.
In His Light, we see Light, though we see the darkness, too.
with shooting in the streets of Boston
between the marathon bombers and the authorities,
and the city locked down,
a reporter offered this advice for parents to comfort children with
who were being exposed to terror in this week's news cycle:
Look for the helpers.
It is Mr. Rogers' advice, and I saw it passed around on Facebook, too.
It seems not much comfort
in the light of people bleeding in the streets, their legs gone,
and parents powerless to save their children.
In the face of horrendous evil, brave kindness seems small:
the courage of those heroes who run to explosions,
who drench themselves in the blood of strangers,
trying to tie in their lifeflow.
But in the face of that bloody fear,
He gives real comfort:
He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you, nor forsake you.'
So that we may boldly say, 'The Lord is my Helper, I will not fear.
What can man do to me?' (Hebrews 13:5,6)
Maybe that seems like a foolish question after a bombing.
Obviously men can do us harm.
Jesus said, "I tell you, my friends,
do not be afraid of those who kill the body
but cannot afterward do anything worse.
I will show you whom to fear:
fear God, who, after killing, has the authority to throw into hell.
Believe me, He is the one you must fear!
Aren't five sparrows sold for two pennies?
Yet not one sparrow is forgotten by God.
Even the hairs of your head have all been counted.
So do not be afraid;
you are worth much more than many sparrows!"
(Luke 12:4-7)
Be anxious for nothing,
but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving,
let your requests be made known to God;
and the peace of God, which surpasses understanding,
will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
but cannot separate you from His love.
Our Lord is risen, and He will raise us.
He has conquered sin and death, and in Him, we are also conquerors.
In His Light, we see Light, though we see the darkness, too.
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