The mystical night approaches quickly now,
full of mystery and magic. And so it is that a boy, a young Palestinian
Christian, prays to God for Santa to be able to cross the border checkpoints
and come to visit even them.
This prayer was read a decade ago at World
Vision’s annual Day of Prayer, one of several Children's Prayers that day. I
saved it at the time and have never forgotten about it. In fact, I prayed it just the other day for
the children of Syria, that nation now torn asunder with its children strewn
beyond its borders. As silly as I might have sounded to the others in the
prayer circle, it just felt right.
There's something very special about
children's prayers--their immediacy, practically, innocence...faith.
I invite you to read this short prayer
slowly, perhaps at the pace it would have been written, as it would have been
felt. I could imagine it being prayed by candlelight, after darkness falls on
Christmas Eve, this Night of Nights. May
we pray it in our hearts this Christmas for all God's children…
Prayer written by Bisan Mousa, aged 7 from Talitha Kumi Lutheran
School in the West Bank
O Lord Jesus, protect us
from danger, and distance the bombs away from our homes, because they have been
destroyed and we are forced to leave our homes for the street.
O Jesus, distance the
evil from us and the missiles and the rockets so that we can go back to living
peacefully and so that Santa Claus can come to us. Our teacher told us that at
the military checkpoint, the soldier did not allow Santa Claus to enter
Bethlehem. We want Christmas to come and want to decorate the tree like the
rest of the children in the world.
O Jesus, give us courage
and strength to overcome fear and to live in peace and tranquility and freedom
in our beloved land and precious Palestine.
Amen.
Amen.
Peace and tranquility and freedom on earth;
goodwill toward all.
Cory
Christmas
Eve 2013
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