A prayer for this very influential day

I would like to offer up a prayer.  Will you pray with me?  Even if you disagree with my opinion, I encourage you to at least read through the prayer to the end.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit:

Dear God, I would like to pray today for everyone who the world doesn't listen to, doesn't understand, and doesn't seem to value.  This includes people who are very old, people who have severe physical disabilities, people with mental illnesses and mental disabilities, women who have been abused and violated, men and women in prison, people awaiting the death penalty, people in war-torn countries, people who haven't been born yet, people who were born prematurely and are in the NICU, kids who are bullied at school, people with no homes, and even people who are just afraid to speak up because they don't believe they matter.  God, help them to open their hearts and realize that You love them unconditionally—that You love *every single one of us* unconditionally.  And that you are not a God who condemns, but a God who forgives!

Help us to value our brothers and sisters, no matter their status, no matter their age, no matter their abilities or experiences or opinions.  Please teach us to be compassionate toward every single person, that we might be Your hands in the world to bring healing and stop the hurting.

On this day especially I would like to offer up a prayer for healing in all the lives that have been affected by abortion and all related moral questions.  For every woman who believes that abortion is her best—or her only—option.  For every woman who has been mocked, ostracized, and judged for getting pregnant out of wedlock, especially those whose families were/are not supportive.  For every woman who has been raped or abused or feels marginalized or dehumanized or devalued in any way.  For every woman who has had an abortion—especially those who suffer from depression afterward.  For every clinician who has performed an abortion or been involved in the procedure.  For every child whose life has been ended by abortion—especially those whose lives were ended because of positive test results for DOWN syndrome and other "complications".  For the survivors of abortions.  For every child who feels unwanted by their family.  Dear Lord, hold all these people close to Your sacred heart and breathe healing into them; replace the negative feelings of shame, loneliness, and pain with Your positive grace and love.

Dear God, I know that those involved in the abortion industry really believe that what they are doing is good—they believe that they are protecting women from unnecessary suffering (which is a noble and worthy goal!).  I also know that our society hasn't really come up with a scientifically consistent way to define "personhood".  We have had this problem in the past, Lord, and by Your grace our society has made some positive steps forward during the various civil rights movements in our nation and our world.  I pray that everyone on *both* sides of the abortion issue has the patience, compassion, and respect to listen to the opinions of those who disagree.  And especially on a day like today, help us all not to judge other people for their opinions or actions regarding the matter of abortion.  Only then can we move forward as a society, Lord, to best protect those who need protecting.  I would like to offer up a special prayer that whatever decision is made regarding personhood that it is a scientifically sound/consistent decision that takes into account the value of a human life.

And on a positive note, I would like to thank You for every child ever born, and for every mother—and for every adoptive mother too!

Please help us to better value our children and our women, Lord, and to protect the life of every human person from conception to natural death.  Help guide us to make the best decisions to protect *every* person from death, from pain, and from feeling unloved or overlooked.

In Your Holy name, Lord Jesus, we pray for healing in this angry, broken world.  Amen.