My “One” and Other “Ones”

Does the world ever get you down?

If it doesn’t you might want to poke yourself in the side or pull out an eyelash to see if you feel anything. You might be a robot.

Sadness is a part of life, and there is no shortage of depressing news in our world.

I have a bad habit of letting my imagination run wild when I hear bad news. No, I don’t fear for myself.  Instead, I think about the details of a tragedy and visualize what it was like for those affected.

Morbid?

Maybe. But it keeps me from becoming desensitized by the things I hear and see.

Today, I read about the possible execution of women and children in the city of Aleppo, Syria. The mere possibility the reports are true weighs my heart down.  I will spare you my detailed analysis, but it is enough to say I see faces with expressions of terror, and tears of unimaginable grief.

I also read about a case of child abuse. Two parents neglected their children to the point of near starvation.  The children, if they survive, are indelibly marked with deep wounds that will torment them for the rest of their lives.

Obsessive?

Perhaps. But I must confess I struggle to know how an obsession with pain in the world differs from a heart that refuses to stuff a sad memory in a box and stack it in a hall closet.

Here is what I feel. I feel my prayer for “one” is more relevant than ever, not just because my “one” needs Jesus, but also because my “one” will touch the lives of other “ones.”

What if a potential murderer came face-to-face with Calvary? What if his heart was broken by the Lord Jesus as He showed the full extent of His love?  Would he pull the trigger?  Would he see people as “ones” instead of objects of scorn?

If a parent knew the love of her Heavenly Father, would she treat her own child differently? Would her own damaged soul find healing?  Would an earthly father see himself as a steward, and put aside his selfish ways?

I know, I know. It’s a complicated world.  Cruelty is often passed down from generation to generation, and relationships are complex.

But I must continue to pray for my “one”. We must all pray for our “ones.”  Our “ones” need Jesus, and the future of the other “ones” in their lives are at stake.  We can’t change the world, but we can lead people to Jesus, and He can change their corner of the world.

It starts with “one.”

Pray for “one”.

Please.

The future of all of the other “ones” depends on it.