Blessed Are the Peacemakers

“Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called children of God” Matthew 5:9


I heard a bittersweet story about a man who was a Peacekeeper for the UN, 44 years old, husband and father of three, who died when the UN building collapsed in Haiti during the initial earthquake. Living by conviction, and dying by chance. Though his family no longer has him here, he has left a beautiful legacy. It made me think of all of the brave people who give of themselves everyday and who risk death. All for peace. It seems that though I don’t have the opportunity to be a United Nations peacekeeper, or a missionary, or be on a military peacekeeping mission, I still can be a peacekeeper. I still can be a person for peace. It is a simple way of living. Today, I choose compassion. Today, I choose kindness. I choose humility and justice. I look at people like this man and I see perhaps a more grand version of peacekeeping, but then I look in my own backyard and ask myself where I may have lacked the elements of compassion, kindness, humility and justice. Peace begins within. As the song goes, let it begin with me. So today, I pray that I will be a peacekeeper, that I will learn how to avoid pettiness and littleness and opt to see the Spirit of God in all people. I pray that I can close my mouth and open my eyes. As always, I ask this in Jesus’s name. Amen

Happy 16th Birthday Patrice!