December 6 Hagar An abandoned woman and child
She was abused, beaten, maltreated because of who she was—a slave. Not only a slave but a woman of differing ethnicity, who was blessed with a pregnancy. Finally, she and her child were put out of the house driven into the wilderness with no means of food or shelter. God heard her cries. Hagar, through her son Ishmael, became the mother of a great nation—the Muslims. How do we treat the “other”? Do we have compassion for those among us who are different, or do we abuse them, or stand by as they are abused, driven out into the wilderness?
Prayer: O God, open my eyes to see others as you do—worthwhile productive people who are loved by you just as much as I am. Give me courage to stand up for their rights.