Voice of Ukraine

From Ira Kapitonova in Kyiv (Day 443):

For your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life!
In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!
And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies,
and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul,
for I am your servant.
Psalm 143:11-12

As I sat down to write tonight’s post, I saw the picture (see above) shared as part of a report on the situation in Bakhmut. Ukrainian soldiers took a Russian soldier captive during an attack on Russian positions. In the picture, they give water to the captive. The Russian said they had spent 4 days without food or water supplied to them.

Whenever I see Ukrainian soldiers treating captive Russians with mercy and care, I hold my breath. How can you explain this amazing grace toward someone shooting at you moments ago? Where do you find mercy to treat the wounds of someone who has likely caused wounds to you or your brothers-in-arms? Where does your kindness come from when you share your limited food and water supply with someone who came to kill you?
Remaining human in inhuman conditions, keeping a kind heart when surrounded by cruelty, choosing love over hatred – these are the incredible miracles of God we have been witnessing throughout this war.

Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. (1 Peter 3:9)