for children
who are orphaned by war,
and the children who go off to war:
hear our prayer, O God;

for children
who are fed junk food,
and children who eat
out of garbage cans:
hear our prayer, O God;

for children
we send off to school,
and for children
we send to prison:
hear our prayer, O God;

for children
who break our hearts,
and for children
whose hearts are lonely,
hear our prayer, O God;

for children
whose laughter lights up a room,
and for children
whose cries go unheard
in the night:
hear our prayer, O God;

O God,
hear our prayers.
Amen.

(c) 2005 Thom M. Shuman