A Hymn for the Children at the Border

Christ, You Spoke to Us of Children
W ZLOBIE LEZY 4.4.7.4.4.7.4.4.4.4.7 ("Infant Holy, Infant Lowly”)

Christ, you spoke to us of children:
“Let the children come to me.
Do not stop them, for the kingdom
Is for little ones like these.”
God, we grieve now as our nation
Fails its moral obligation
To receive the refugees.

Christ, you spoke of God’s intention:
“Do not cause my children harm!”
Yet we place them in detention,
Far from loved ones, scared and worn.
Children, huddled close together,
Grieve for families that are severed; 
God of love, what have we done?

Christ, you taught us to give water
And to help the ones who thirst.
Yet in places near the border,
We confess we’ve done our worst.
Those who walk must now walk farther.
We have made their journey harder;
We dump water in the dirt.

God of immigrant and stranger,
God who welcomes those in need,
When your children are in danger,
Will we love them or concede?
May we not seek cheap forgiveness
Till we dare to work for justice—
Till your little ones are freed.

Biblical References: Isaiah 58; Matthew 19:14 18:6;25:31-46; James 2:14-26. 

Tune: Polish melody Text: Copyright © 2019 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. All rights reserved.

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