If you have read the news at all in the last few days you know of the horrible tragedy in Connecticut.
My heart breaks for all of those that lost someone that day. My mama heart grieves for the little ones lost and the empty arms that ache for them. I simply cannot imagine the hurt, loss, confusion or anger that would come along with any of the misery.
If, like me, you happened to be on facebook that same day, then you know the outrage, the pleas for gun control, the shouting about our 2nd Amendment rights and the tributes that popped up so very quickly for the little ones that lost their lives. I am not going to preach or voice my opinion about any of the above, as my opinions and rights have nothing to do with the tragedy that happened.
I do know that we as Americans and Christians we have done an excellent job of allowing others to kick Jesus out of our schools, our government and more. It is a shame and I wanted to share something that I saw on facebook that same day as all of the other outrage I read. First, a prayer, from Max Lucado.
Dear Jesus,
It’s a good thing you were born at night. This world sure seems dark. I have a good eye for silver linings. But they seem dimmer lately.
These killings, Lord. These children, Lord. Innocence violated. Raw evil demonstrated.
The whole world seems on edge. Trigger-happy. Ticked off. We hear threats of chemical weapons and nuclear bombs. Are we one button-push away from annihilation?
Your world seems a bit darker this Christmas. But you were born in the dark, right? You came at night. The shepherds were nightshift workers. The Wise Men followed a star. Your first cries were heard in the shadows. To see your face, Mary and Joseph needed a candle flame. It was dark. Dark with Herod’s jealousy. Dark with Roman oppression. Dark with poverty. Dark with violence.
Herod went on a rampage, killing babies. Joseph took you and your mom into Egypt. You were an immigrant before you were a Nazarene.
Oh, Lord Jesus, you entered the dark world of your day. Won’t you enter ours? We are weary of bloodshed. We, like the wise men, are looking for a star. We, like the shepherds, are kneeling at a manger.
This Christmas, we ask you, heal us, help us, be born anew in us.
Hopefully,
Your Children
My heart cries out to our loving Lord and Savior, please hear us Lord, not just in our time of grieving, but in earnest everyday.
So much is going on in this world and as one person, little ole me, I feel helpless, yet, not hopeless. I know that Christ is a powerful and loving Savior and that with Him, anything is possible. (Phil 4:13)
As we tuck in our children and pray with (and over them) each night, I also want to share something else I read. In the hope that it makes it easier to explain to our little ones about such tragedies as the one in Connecticut.
I used to watch a show when I was little and maybe you did too……one of the “good ones” from way back when. There was a man, a good man, that invited me into his house and then loving showed me things that I might never get to see in my great big world. He did so with calm and care, with love and patience, with his heart in the right spot. I loved his show and no matter what I heard later in life, Mr. Rogers made an impression on my little life and for that I am grateful. Well, during his life, he passed on this nugget of knowledge from his mama, and she sounds like a wise woman indeed.
“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of ‘disaster,’ I remember my mother’s words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world.” ~ Mister Rogers
There is still HOPE for our land, our people and each one of us.
To all of you that have your babies in school, those of you that teacher our precious gifts, those of you that are simply a part of the school system, YOU are in my prayers. Not just because of the shooting in Connecticut, simply because it is a tough world out there and you (and me) need as many prayers as we can get. We as a “people” may have kicked Jesus out of schools, but surely we can pray Him back in.
Many blessing today and everyday,
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