Holding Onto The Promise
It’s been a rough few days.
Of course, national tragedies are always difficult to deal with, but they’ve all seemed so far away.
But what happened on Friday while somewhat ironically I met with my Moms in Prayer group—a group of friends from my girls’ grade school dedicated to covering our children, our teachers and our staff in His protection—the tragedy that was unfolding while we gathered, it has rocked me to my core.
Because this tragedy didn’t seem far away at all.
Because the reason why I’ve been spending less time creating recipes and posting here is because most days of my week, I’m in the schools with my girls, their teachers, and their staff.
Because I spent the day before the tragedy in a classroom of kindergartners, and for some reason was particularly present and aware of their sweetness as they all stood, covered their hearts with small hands and said the Pledge of Allegiance in tiny, little voices.
Because the victims of Friday’s tragedy were the exact ages of my girls, with the same loves, hopes, dreams and heart wrenchingly, the exact names.
It’s been a rough few days.
I go to sleep feeling overwhelmingly grateful for what I have, but then I wake up and remember the reality of what happened. I can’t help but feel the anguish that those parents are feeling. I go in and sit on the edge of my girls’ beds, watch their little chests move up and down, smooth back their hair, grasp their little hands and kiss their sweet cheeks. Unapologetically reckless in loving them.
And I let my tears fall on them as I grieve for the world that they are living in and pray for their protection.
Max Lucado shared a prayer this weekend that has given me some comfort as I’ve struggled to find peace. He pleads humbly:
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
I take comfort in his words, and in the hope that remains in Christ. He’s grieving too. He’s feeling our anguish right along with us. He’s reaching for our hearts with His outstretched hands, healing us and covering our wounds.
And reminding me of the promise that one day, He’ll wipe away every tear.
Our hearts are broken. And as we go on with our christmas programs reflecing on His birth. I remember He also suffered thrugh his sons terrible death caused by sin.
Yes I know He feels are anguish. Our healing and hope are in Christ alone. And he’s desperate for us to invite Him in.
Yes. And His sacrifice and suffering was for all of us, not just those who love Him, but even those that reject Him and do unspeakable evil. It’s unfathomable to me. But I am eternally grateful for it.
I am so grateful that I was completely unaware of this as I was at work on Friday. Now that I know, I cannot wait to get back to work this week where I have the pleasure of bringing joy through music to infant through five year olds. Hoping to hug the olders and cuddle the babies even more than usual and just appreciate the blessing that they are and the fact that we are all safe and sound. Praying for Connecticut. My personal ties are that I once lived very close to there and I used to teach first grade.
Romans 12:21
Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good.
Bless you, Leslie. And all those that show such loving concern for my children and others every day.
I just could not shake the feeling of those parents waking up Saturday morning and their brief moment of hope that it had all been a bad dream and that they would walk into their sweet angel’s room to find them sleeping soundly. Their feeling of loss must be indescribable. I’m comforted in knowing that many have the faith to see them through, but it’s going to be a rough road. Our ill citizens need help before more lives are taken.
I couldn’t agree more, Tiff. Blessings to you & Chris.
Even thought I’m not a parent, I still feel so so sad about what happened on Friday. I too was oblivious to it until I looked over at one of my co-workers whose eyes had completely welled up with tears. Every time I read about it, I get chills down my spine (and this post is no exception!) This has all made me so thankful for the safety of my family, and I’ll definitely be taking extra time to appreciate them this holiday season.
I do see how we each are taking this tragedy and clinging to our loved ones. And I am thankful for that.
Amen.
Know that our God is deeply grieved at the events of this past week. This was not in any way His will. This was pure evil playing out in a broken and fallen world.
Can I encourage you to continue investing time with your Moms in Prayer group? That is a powerful tool in our battle for our children. I was privileged to lead our elementary school group for seven years. I can tell you countless stories of lives that were changed because a group of faithful moms met together each week to pray protection over our children and our school. I have prayer walked miles around the schools my children attend, literally praying a barrier of protection over our children. There is nothing like joining with another mom in pouring out your heart for the lives of your children.
Thank you for the faithfulness you demonstrate in this forum that you have. God is truly using you in a powerful way.
I’ll definitely continue with the Moms in Prayer group. It’s given me a lot of peace about having the girls in their school. I’m so glad it was an encouragement to you as well. Thank you for encouraging me!
Oh, this touched my heart, Mama Pea! Thank you for sharing that prayer with us. Praying for not only the children, their parents, and those personally touched by this terrible event, but for parents and children across the world during this Christmas season.
That prayer is beautiful…All I know to do right now, when nothing makes sense, is to pray.
I think that’s a beautiful “first reaction” response to have.
As a school teacher, I can’t even begin to tell you how horrible Friday was. We struggling to hide the event from the children. They were so happy, so full of excitement, so full of life … I would look at my fifth graders and it was all I could do to keep my emotions under control. Whenever I saw one of our tiny kindergartners I would break down though, and the tears would flow. Noon hour was spent sobbing in my classroom.
The first thing I did when I got home was to pull my 14 year-old onto my lap and hold her tight. I was so thankful for the blessing of her life. I cannot imagine the pain those parents are going through, but I am lifting them up in prayer as often as I can. I am taking great comfort from a picture I saw of young children being held by our Savior, for I believe He was there to gather them into His loving arms, and that angels stood by to minister to them as well. It is my prayer that the families and those in this broken community will be the recipients of the ministering of angels in the coming days, weeks, months, and years. I also pray that this event will change the rest of us and turn our faces to God.
I can only imagine how hard a day that was for teachers across the nation as well. I made sure to send an extra note of love to both of my girls’ teachers. I have such love and respect for all of you who care for and teach our kids each day. Bless you!
Thank you for this post and for all that you do. As a mother of an almost 4 year old, I can’t hug her or hold her enough, and I have no idea how I am going to send her to school tomorrow. My heart is broken, and all I seem able to do is wonder how those children felt, see the looks on their faces, and feel the anguish of their parents. I can’t pray enough, can’t cry enough, can’t hope enough that we will all wake out of this nightmare, somehow, someway. My only moment of light this weekend came through my wonderful little family and reminded me that even in the sorrow, the remembering, the pain, I need to find a way to stay present in my moment and not miss any time with my daughter. If this can offer a smile, here is my smile of the weekend: I was getting ready for a very rare night out, freshly showered, dressed, and nearly ready to go, when my daughter threw up on our dog’s head, the dog then shook his head, and, well, you can imagine what we all looked like after that! I thank God for that moment, for that laughter, for that light that is my family, and pray that even in the darkest of times we can all find something that allows us to smile.
You made me laugh, as disgusting as that may be. Thank you!
It is tragic indeed. I can only imagine it being amplified times 100 for a mom who I hope to someday be.
I agree the only hope I can rest assured in is knowing God has us covered. “There can not be darkness where there is light” keeps popping in my head. God has us covered 100% everyday. He can not be dimmed down by the evil of some. He still is the LIGHT and will forever be. Amen.
It was such a huge tragedy and my heart just breaks and I’ve been at a loss for words since it occurred – trying to process and wrap my head around my thoughts. But my heart is broken so all I can do is send all of my love to those hurting and hope that we soon find comfort and healing.
Heartbreaking……
At church today, the priest was talking about seeing God’s face and that the face he has been seeing is God crying. That hit home. It’s easy to think of the Lord as this distant and large “thing”, but really, He’s just as heartbroken as we all are about this tragedy.
One of the most poignant moments in the Bible, I believe, is the simple verse, “Jesus wept.” (John 11:35). I know your priest is right, and He is weeping now.
What an encouraging prayer. Thanks for sharing it.
Lucado is so well spoken. God spoken. Yes, do not fear for HE has overcome. … ALL.. even EVIL.
still cant wrap my head around this, so heartbroken..all i could do is keep praying for everyone
I have to believe that in this world there is more right than wrong, more good than evil, and more love than hate. Even with a heavy heart and an ache in the pit of my stomach, it’s that faith I cling to now. May God comfort and protect all those precious families. And the rest of us, because oh we so need it.
Amen.
Blessings, Sarah. This is especially difficult for me as I experienced something similar in 9th grade: a 7th grader, the younger brother of one of my classmates, shot and killed another ninth grader and wounded another before killing himself. At that time, things like that didn’t happen, and it’s pretty much been swept under the rug. I really never thought about it until Columbine, and now I’m reminded almost weekly (sadly), that this violence continues. All I can do to reassure myself is remember that God is still on the throne.
I am so sorry that you had to experience that as a young adult. We can’t insulate our children from pain, but we can love and pray for them and their safety, whether their in our hands or His.
Our world was wrecked on Friday, changed forever. I am still working to find peace in this tragedy and was looking forward to your post because I knew you’d find just the right words to help. As I listened to K-love on Sunday, they said just as you did, Our Lord is crying with us. Don’t be mad at God. He didn’t want this to happen. He gave is Free Will and with that, sadly, a lot of poor, disgusting things can happen. We need to pray for mental health and treating others kindly. Most importantly, at this time, just keep praying for those families!!
Yes, Maria. I hope you treasure your mommy moments today.
Amen and amen.
Thankyou so much for posting this. I so agree with your post. I know God is greiving right along with all of us. My sister in law said that this whole thing has shaken her faith. I may not no God’s reasons for allowing something like this to happen, but I trust Him. I can’t imagine a life without Him. I like what Joanna Weaver has said in one of her books. “If you can’t trace God’s hands, Trust in His heart.” That is what I choose to do.
I am shaken, but my faith isn’t. He never promised that this life, this Earth would be perfect. It can’t be. We are a fallen world. We need a Savior. That’s evident now more than ever. I pray He draws closer to all of those who are hurting.
i have not read all these posts yet, and i apologize if i am re-stating something already said…each time there is a tragedy in our world, i wonder, “who did not love him, who did not smile at him, who did not care for him, who did not notice him, that he could grow into a man in such pain, so broken, with no skills to cope whatsoever, that he would harm not only a group of people in a specific location, but the world?”
god is here, as he always is, we ask for his comfort for ourselves and the victims, how often do we ask for comfort and grace for the “villian?” there are so many broken souls in the world, ready to snap…please smile at everyone, please offer a kind word, start a simple conversation in an elevator, in the line at the post office, and offer some hope through your words and the small connections you make…as boldly and as unapologetically as we do that with our children and loved ones today, do that with everyone, don’t be embarrassed to say something sweet and true and beautiful to a stranger…you just may be instrumental in being god’s promise, you just may save the world from another day of pain.
I totally, totally agree. I am even more compelled to show kindness, to show the love of Christ to others…especially children–all children. There is no greater defense to darkness than light, and I hope to share His light with everyone I encounter. You shine yourself, Gail. Thanks for sharing that here.
As always, your post really touched me. Thank you for speaking the truth in love.
Thank you, Janelle.
What a beautiful post. Children, like Christians, are a light in a dark world and I know it breaks the Lord’s heart to see those lights blown out far too soon. I’m praying for a peace that surpasses all understanding over those who are grieving over the loss of their loved ones tonight.
What a beautiful comment. Thanks, Ashley.
I spent the weekend with my nieces and nephews and hugged them extra tight. Every day is a precious one.
I related to every word of this post. It was very hard to see my boys get on their school bus today. I just wanted to keep them home forever.
Thank you for posting this. When I turned on the news Saturday morning ( Sydney time) I couldn’t fathom what had occurred while we slept soundly so soundly in those early hours. I think this tragedy has broken millions of hearts around the world with so many weeping at the devastating loss of so many young lives. Even now reading your post I am lying here next to my sleeping child in tears thinking about the unimaginable grief the families are going through and at the same time not letting go of my daughters little hand in the hope I will never have to let her go. May god bless the families of the fallen may he lift them up and give comfort in the knowledge that they are angels by his side now.
Like I wrote on my last post…. He is the true and only ever shinning light! Let Him show us the way and let us be a reflection of it.
Thank you so much for this… My heart has been so heavy since this tragedy. As someone who doesn’t have a child (yet)
but has wanted one for so long, to imagine having one and then so quickly taken away just breaks my heart.