My first thoughts this morning: There are no words…
….yet a million flooded my mind at the same time.
sick
devastated
confused
angry
hurt
burdened
Questions seeped in, demanding answers:
Why?
Why them and not us?
What could have possibly been going through his mind?
Why is he dead—free from having to face the devastation he caused, free from having to face the families he destroyed?
Why those precious babies?
Why those families?
Why?
I know many people are asking the question that has been asked for centuries—every time a tragedy strikes: How could God let this happen?
Sin.
It’s a sick, sick thing.
It’s not God’s fault.
We can’t blame God for letting this happen.
If anything, we must blame man for his sin.
Romans 3:23—for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
In times like this, we should run to our God and cling to Him, not dwell on questioning Him.
Romans 6:23—for the wages of sin is death, BUT the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Although we are stunned, shocked, wracked with tears, angry, and devastated, we can cling to the hope we have in Jesus Christ. And, we can pray—for the families affected (including the gunman’s family--whatever is left of it), for the school, for the community, and for the sweet babies who have seen far more than their little eyes ever should. We can pray that beauty will come from these ashes. We can pray that God will work even this out for the good of those who love Him. We can pray that His name will be glorified somehow in this tragedy.
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As I looked out at my kids earlier today—my kids who, at that moment, had no idea what had transpired this morning— my heart absolutely broke.
What if it was us?
What if I had lost one of them?
As crazy as some of them make me, I would be crushed if anything happened to one of them. In times like this, I find that I become quite protective, and the fierce love I hold for my kids is recognized once again. I guess it’s a good reminder to always be grateful for what I have… a reminder to love those in my life... while they are still in my life.
We never know when someone might be taken from us.
I don’t know what I would do if it happened at our school, in our town. I just pray to God that I’ll never have to know.
I am saddened that my kids have to grow up in a society with so much violence. I hate that their lives are filled with such graphic video games, horrible movies, and disgusting television…..and, I suppose I should add school shootings to the list….
Their innocence is lost all too soon these days.
So, I’ll try to preserve what innocence I can. I’ll try to love them and teach them as well as I can while they are in my care. I’ll pray that they never have to face tragedy like that which befell Connecticut today.
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In the midst of this tragedy, I find myself thankful...
...for a staff that can come together after school and pray for the people affected today.
...for the flag that was lowered to half mast at Wal-Mart.
...for the little ones that are in my life (I'm wishing I could hold them and hug them right now).
...that I am entrusted to care for and teach other people's children every day.
...that I have a God that is so much bigger than this.
...that I have hope in Christ amidst devastation.
...that Jesus KNOWS: "Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows." -Isaiah 53:4
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