Receive children…

Receive children. Receive me.
Jesus, you saw in everyone, a child of God;
in the woman shunned, drawing water in the heat of the day,
in the man hated by his peers for the job he did,
in the blind man, blamed for his disability,
in the leper, ostracised because of his illness,
in the woman, stoned for her misdemeanours…
You saw people’s vulnerability, their loneliness and fear
and offered welcome, acceptance, forgiveness and love.
Help us not to follow the crowd, but to see others as you do;
not to judge by appearances, but to be able to look below the surface,
not to walk by and avert our eyes, but to stop and take notice,
not to make excuses, but to seek opportunities for loving action.
May we recognise God’s children in the people we meet
and follow your example of life-changing love.
Kathleen Skinner
Together in Prayer 2015