Pray for Peace

I've been trying to avoid the news all week. . .knowing that the Middle East is in absolute turmoil. Mom asked me about it earlier --so I spent some time reading articles and catching the most recent information on CNN. I've visited these places. I love the culture, the people, and the landscape. It is a beautiful land with a rich history. I felt at peace there. It honestly makes my heart hurt to see the destruction and hatred held by so many in that region of the world. I think the worst part is that there are innocent civilians who are suffering because of radicals whose hearts are so full of anger that they forget we are all part of the same human family. We all came from the same place and, God willing, we'll all return.

"Sixty-three Lebanese civilians were killed in air strikes on Wednesday, the deadliest toll in the nine-day war triggered in retaliation to Hizbollah's July 12 capture of two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border operation.

Hizbollah rockets killed two children in the northern Israeli city of Nazareth, medics said. More rockets fell on the city of Haifa and one hit an empty seafront restaurant.

And despite international concern, there was no sign Israel or its Lebanese Shi'ite foes were ready to heed the Beirut government's pleas for an immediate halt to a war that has killed at least 299 people in Lebanon and 29 in Israel."

Maybe tonight before we all go to sleep without the worry of being awakened to the sound of bombs and gunfire--we could just take a minute to express gratitude for our safety and freedom and pray for hearts to be softened, that the city of Nazareth and those that surround it will once again be places of peace.