Article February 1, 1988 Issue

What do we owe them?

The Christian Science Monitor

A Woman, moved by reports of abused children, vowed to pray daily about that issue until she saw clearly that God's government of infinite, powerful love does indeed bring healing to mankind. Some time later she was grateful to see in a local paper that incidents of child abuse in the area had decreased by 25 percent. To her, it was not a coincidence but an indication of the power of prayer.

What do we owe the children of the world? The Bible says of Christ Jesus, "He took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me." Mark 9:36, 37. Today's children are in great need of that Christly embrace. While we can't be personally present to help every child in need, a course of action that is open to everyone is prayer—prayer that comes from the heart of love for one another, which is the very essence of Christianity. Mrs. Eddy writes, "True prayer is not asking God for love; it is learning to love, and to include all mankind in one affection." No and Yes, p. 39. Through such prayer, Christian love moves beyond human sympathy to Christly hope and healing.

Prayer can reach around the globe, helping to enlighten the dark places of the world, because the power of God, discerned in prayer, is omnipresent. The need is to realize in communion with God that His power is supreme over tyranny, regardless of its form. Though ignorance, cruelty, sensuality, may appear to predominate, they can no more arrest the dawning recognition of God's presence than the darkest night can swallow up the early morning light. Prayer that springs from a deep recognition that God is almighty is not intimidated by the apparent magnitude of troubles but rejoices in absolute certainty of God's power to uplift, enlighten, and save. Vigorous affirmations of God's omnipotent goodness can help destroy callous indifference and break barriers of fear.

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