July 24, 2018

Headlines:

R.I.P. Ivanka Inc.

As the first daughter folds her fashion brand, a to-do list. (New York Times)

Jared Kushner Flames Out 

(New York Times)

Trump, Cohen discussed 'financing' of possible Playboy model payment on secret recording (Fox News)

Feds on track to reunite more than 1,600 families separated at border by deadline (Washington Times)

So Father, I'm here on my bed, ready to go to sleep, and I remembered I'm supposed to be praying for the president.  So let me start by thanking you for today.  Thank you that it didn't rain as hard as it was supposed to.  That was nice.

I'm asking for your forgiveness again, Lord, because in trying to figure out what's been happening in Trumpland today I automatically went to the sources I know will scratch my itch.  I want to apologize for wanting to be angry at him.  I'm sorry for reading about Ivanka's business struggles with a certain glee.  I'm sorry for being so righteously indignant about her not being a more effective advisor to her father.  Because I don't know what sorts of pressures she faces as a daughter, and as a person who cares about her family's legacy.  I pray that you'll bless her work.  I pray that you strengthen her voice so that she can speak out for women's rights; like the right not to have their president back abusive candidates, or hire abusive employees.  Help her to speak to the special strength that women have, but also to the vulnerabilities that they experience every day.  Let her be a champion.

I pray that you'll be with Jared Kushner, too.  And again, I know I've deliberately clicked on links that predict his imminent demise, and that I do it because it's satisfying to be angry at him for just...being.  But bless him, too.  Bless his work; his responsibilities are huge.  Whether or not he's qualified, he's trusted by the president to carry them out.  Don't allow him to use his position for financial gain.  Bless his marriage, bless his children.  Lord, I honestly don't care at this moment about either of those things, but I know you do.  And I'm trying.

I guess...thank you that the president isn't going to leave the Americans hit hard by his trade war high and dry.  I don't know if it's right or wrong, but thank you that farmers will not be left hanging by retaliation to the president's trade policies.  But I pray that if it's that easy to hand out $12 billion, that it also be used to support education programs, and programs that support Americans that are struggling with making ends meet.

Lord, I don't even know what to say about the president and his shenanigans with porn stars.  I pray for both Stormy Daniels and the president.  I pray that the seediness of the situation not merely be a laughing stock, but strikes us all as a deeply disturbing occurrence that denigrates just about everything a healthy relationship should be.

I'm tired Lord.  I thank you that this experiment is already working, somewhat.  And that I was able to log on to some fairly conservative news sites and read some balanced articles.  I needed to do that.  Lord, it does smart to read that some officials congratulate themselves on the reunification of over 1400 families separated at the border, when such a reunification wouldn't have been necessary absent Trump's zero-tolerance policy...but I'll take it.  I pray for the 450 families that remain separated, and whose parents have been deported with no way of contacting their children.  Lord, guide the officials and lawyers involved in reconnecting these families.  I can only imagine the fear and anxiety that consumes them.  Be their comfort, Lord.

Amen.