27/05/2026
Lord of mercy,
My heart is heavy today for the innocent children held in captivity across this earth.
For the ones taken from warm beds and loving arms,
For the ones who cry in the dark with no one to hear,
For the ones whose laughter has been stolen and replaced with fear.
We grieve the small hands that should be drawing and playing, now chained.
We mourn the bright eyes that should be full of wonder, now clouded with terror.
We ache for every birthday missed, every scraped knee with no mother to kiss it,
Every night without a lullaby, every morning without hope.
God, You see them when the world cannot.
You know each name, each face, each silent prayer they whisper.
Break the doors that hold them. Shatter the chains.
Confound those who profit from their suffering.
Send Your angels to guard them, and raise up brave souls to bring them home.
Bring them back to safety, to healing, to the sound of their own names spoken in love.
Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
Comfort the families who wait with breaking hearts. Do not let them grow weary in hope.
Until every child is free, let us not rest. Let us not look away.
Hold them, Father, until we can hold them again.
And on this day, we still dare to speak hope into the world:
Happy Children's Day.
May it soon be true for every child, everywhere.
Amen