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Today We Mourn
Today we are burying Jack Pinto, 6, and Noah Pozner, 6, two students who were senselessly gunned down in a Connecticut elementary school. Over the next week, we will bury many more people - children and adults alike. And yes, I said we. The likelihood that any of those 26 people are related to us is slim, but they are still a part of us. It is not just their parents and family members who cry tears of hurt and are walking around in complete shock and disbelief. An entire nation is numb, angered, saddened and confused. We grieve the innocent loss of life just as these parents do. Precious children whose lives meant so much. In them we see dreams that will go unfulfilled, destinies that will never be met. And we mourn with their parents, their families. Each Christmas will be a horrible reminder of all that was stolen from them on that fateful day.
For those of us who still have our children, we pray silent prayers of thanksgiving so as not to be disrespectful to those who lost their loved ones. We hold our children a little closer, overlook the quirks that usually drive us crazy. Love a little harder, knowing tomorrow is promised, but not necessarily to each one of us.
It is hard to make sense of what has happened. People are walking around in a fog, lost and bewildered trying to figure out where to go next. Where do we go from here? their mournful eyes seem to say. And though this makes no earthly sense, what we cannot afford to do is blame God for what has happened. Even though He is sovereign, powerful and mighty, He has given to each one of us the gift of free will. Yes, I said gift. We are each afforded the right to make our own decisions. And while some people use their power for good, others choose to use it for evil. Still God is not to blame.
There are so many varying factors why this sort of thing happens, but there are no easy answers. Sometimes it is mental illness that causes a person to have a distorted view of reality. Other times it is pure hatred of a people, place or thing that drives one to act so irrationally. And there are many other reasons in between. I have seen many posts of people asking for prayer in the aftermath of this tragedy. I have seen just as many people making harsh criticisms of those asking for prayer, saying the time to pray was before all of this happened. How does that criticism help anyone? Yes, prayer was needed before this happened. But prayer is definitely needed after. There are families who have to try and put themselves back together. There are the holidays upon us where they will not hear the joyful laughter of their loved ones. There are the gifts that must be returned. Rooms to clean out. Personal belongings to part with. And the vast emptiness the absence of their loved ones will leave in their hearts, maybe even for the remainder of their lives. Yes, we need to pray.
And just as God loves those who were slain, he loves the killer, too. There was a photo of Adam Lanza, that was his name, on the front cover of the New York Times yesterday. It was his eyes that drew me. They seemed blank. Almost as if he weren't really present. He is a person, too. We cannot dehumanize him just because he did the unthinkable. Hurting people hurt people...and they hurt themselves, too. Sometimes hurting people kill people and they kill themselves, too. We may never know what was going on in his mind or why he killed his mother or the others. But he is not to be forgotten either. Neither should he be hated. Let it be remembered that Jesus died for him, too.
Today, let's stop and think. Let's see with eyes that are quickened with new sight. The person standing behind you in line is your brother. The checkout clerk is your sister. From the person who has the most to the person who has the least, we are all connected. We are one. Created by the same God. Knit together by the same hands who loves us all equally. It is usually something so small that we allow to separate us. We are more alike than we know. We are more connected than we have ever really allowed ourselves to admit.
Let's pray for each other, that we begin to see with the eyes of Christ. That we begin to love with the heart of Christ. And that we begin to heal as a nation one person, one family, one street, one city, one state at a time so that we may all be one. And may we pray the prayers of strength, courage and healing to all those who were affected by what happened that fateful Friday.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4
Changing lives one word at a time...Tumika Patrice Cain
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Tumika Patrice Cain is an award-winning author, media personality,
and motivational speaker. Through her imprint, Inkscriptions Publishing &
Media Group, she provides high quality, affordable, mentor-based publishing
services to indie authors, as well as inspired, empowering messages of hope and
abundance through her media outlets. Her works can be found in many
publications, including Fresh Lifestyle Magazine. To learn more about Tumika,
her books, and her services visit the following websites. http://www.TumikaPatrice.com
and http://www.InkscriptionsPMG.com
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