Praying For Better News

  

 Abbey grabbed an apple and sat down at the kitchen island. Her mom was busy making dinner while the 5:00 news played in the background. Abbey bit into her apple, listening to the news reporter describing a downtown crime scene. After listening to the report, Abbey put down her apple, unable to finish eating the fruit. The story had disgusted her and robbed her appetite. “ Why do you watch this stuff, Mom?”

 Her mom turned around, “ Why do I watch the news? So I can stay informed.”

“Well, it’s just one depressing story after another. What’s wrong with these people? Who could ever do that?”

 “I agree, that is a horrible story. I wish things like that didn’t occur in our world. After watching the news, I always feel like so many people need prayers.”

 “Ya, Mom, you should pray for that poor girl.”

 “ Well, you should pray for her, too. And pray for the person who did that to her.”

 “What? I’m not praying for them. They don’t deserve any prays. I’ll pray for that girl, but I can’t believe you would want me to pray for them,” declared Abbey.

 Abby’s mom stopped sautéing the vegetables and thought for a minute. “Abby, you’re right. A good person would pray for that girl. But a good disciple would pray for her attacker, too.”

 “Why? Why would I do that?”

 “Because that’s what Jesus asks us to do. He said to pray for your enemies and those who hurt you.”

  “Well, that’s ridiculous. The thought of it makes me sick.”

 “I know, I get it. It doesn’t seem to make sense. I find it hard to do that, too, but it’s what Jesus has asked us to do. We have to pray for the one who has been hurt and the one who did the hurting.”

 “Why would God want to help people who are evil?”

  “Maybe the only way they will ever change their ways is with God’s grace. I’m not saying I condone what they have done; I think they should be held accountable for their crimes. The world improves when good people turn to God, but wouldn’t you like to live in a world where immoral people turn to God, too? I think that’s the only way to stop more evil from occurring. You know what I mean?” asked mom. 

 Abbey made a face while shaking her head back and forth, “I don’t know, I’ll think about it.”

-Susan