God
Nothing makes me want to scorch earth faster
Or with more fury
thank suffering children.
My heart clencheswithin my chest, when children suffer.
Especially when it is due to the incompetences of adults.
It’s is our job to protect children—not from inconveniences or hard things—
But from bullying, bigotry, mistreatment and evil.
Lord you know that my niphling, your niphling has COVID
And that each and every child sick with COVID right now (at least in the United States)—
Is a failure.
Because we know how to keep each other safe.
We just need to do the hard work, and we keep tripping up
On our ignorance
Selfishness
And greed.
Tonight I will probably pray some people shaped prayers;
But right now I need to rage and and spit and cry out:
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Break our Hearts of Stone
So that we might do better—God help us to do better,
I know we can do better!
And keep your baby niphlings* safe,
All the baby niphlings For you are the Mighty Aunty God
Ready to hug us and rage on our behalf
And love us back to health
Come on Aunty God and help all your sick niphlings
Till each of us is better I pray
—and thanks again for the vaccines and masks—
In Aunty God’s name I pray
Amen
*niphling is one of several gender neutral terms for nieces and nephews. It’s my favorite because it sounds like something out of a fantasy novel.
Please feel free to use/adapt/share with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta
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