Such an unspeakable tragedy - Steven Curtis Chapman losing his precious 5 year old daughter Maria. I am overwhelmed that such an undeserving family would be going through this much pain. I've been thinking about it all day, reaching out to a friend who works for the Chapmans to let him know we are praying. I've been broken for them, and thinking of how much comfort and healing the family needs now and in the days to come. I found a blog today created for people to leave encouraging comments for the family - already it had 12,137 comments. 12,000 + people giving encouragement and prayers for this one family. It was beautiful to me, to see the body of Christ stepping up to comfort a family so in need of hope, healing, and peace…
But then this thought bowled me over.
Who will cry for the orphans dying in Swaziland RIGHT NOW? Who will grieve with the widows? Who will comfort the mother dying of AIDS who is helplessly watching her children starve to death? Who will mourn with the 8 year old little girl who's lost both her parents to AIDS? Who will encourage her and help her as she tries desperately to care for her siblings left behind?
Thousands will cry for Maria. Thousands will pray for her family. Thousands will seek to give them the comfort and support they need… and they should! WE SHOULD! This is the Body of Christ, loving as we are called to love.
But who will cry for the others? Who will pray for the forgotten children, the broken mothers, the grieving widows, the hopeless millions suffering around the world tonight?
God, break our hearts for what breaks Yours.