For a close friend suffering from war and injustice

[beatitude]

I have a very close Muslim friend in her early twenties who grew up with war and oppression and who has spent the last year in the UK on a scholarship, her first trip away from her own country. New Year was difficult for her as the fireworks reminded her of bombs. We have spoken before about forgiveness and love for enemies, but today we had the longest and most challenging conversation about it yet. She can't bring herself to love the people who have put her family and friends through so much, and she's angry at the suggestion that she should. Her head is full of images of body parts and blown-apart houses and other things, and so often she's heard "love your enemy" preached by well-meaning internationals who don't know what it's like to live this way. Today's conversation felt different, as though she had really connected with the idea on some level - we were talking about people we know who have been through what she has and who have been able to love. When we parted it felt right to offer her a New Testament to read; she took it, but emphasised she was borrowing it, not keeping it. Please pray for her to be comforted and supported as she prepares to go back home and may God give her the light and peace she needs so badly. I am also praying that she might want to keep that book.