Tag Archive | tears

Tears for Strangers

Dec14

Newtown mapI’m praying and weeping for people I don’t even know, in a town I’ve never heard of, in a place I’ve never been.

People all around the country are in shock after the senseless, savage killing of more than 20 kids and adults in Newtown, Conn., this morning. It’s unimaginable how someone could commit such an horrific act of violence against anyone, let alone children. Kindergarten children. And his own mother. We know nothing of this young man’s background yet, but boy is it hard not to judge him.

At this point, I don’t feel as if the details are important. It’s sad enough just to know that several adults, including the shooter’s mother, and as many as 20 children 10 years old and younger died today in this rampage. My daughter is 10. She’s in the 4th grade. If we lived in Newtown, Conn., she would have been at that school today. While the parents of the survivors hold their children a little tighter tonight, there are 20 families whose arms are empty. It just breaks my heart.

11 days before Christmas. Presents are purchased, wrapped and placed under the tree. There is great anticipation amongst the children in every home that celebrates the birth of Jesus. Within a moment, a phone call, a rumor, sirens blaring down the road, and your life changes forever.

It’s a sad day. May the God of peace that surpasses understanding guard the hearts and minds of the families. Makes me never want to let my children out of my sight.

Thankful today for:

690. light in the darkness

691. happy singing

692. advent

693. light timers

694. turkey soup

695. the safety of my children

696. our Christmas tree

697. brightly wrapped gifts

698. the manger

699. an upcoming two-week break

700. birthdays

701. the absence of tragedy in my own life

702. community

703. first responders

704. the kindness of strangers

705. fun all-school field trips

706. God’s mercy

707. egg nog

708. being a stay-at-home mom

709. Christmas cards from far-away friends.

Take Heed Lest You Fall

Dec3

20121203-064131.jpg

I am under no illusions that I am perfect or impervious to sin. Obviously, I sin everyday. But it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that my sin isn’t as bad as somebody else’s. Is my pride worse than murder? If I looked at things society’s way, I could think that. They don’t throw people in prison for pride. We think our justice system is overloaded now, whew! Every house would have to be a prison if pride was punishable.

But God sees it that way. “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).

I heard the other day that the pastor of a church here in Orlando had an affair and stepped down from his ministry. This is a big church that many friends of mine attend. It made me very sad, not only for the husband and his wife and children–and his father, who pastors another very large church in the area–but for my friends who were under his leadership. But I also think that God wept at his sin.

But He weeps at mine as well. Mine just aren’t quite as visible, and they don’t hurt as many people. But they are still ugly in God’s eyes. Praise be to our Lord Jesus Christ who covered my sin with His blood. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool” (Isaiah 1:18).

It’s easy to point fingers at other people; it’s much more uncomfortable to point them back at ourselves. It’s easy to sit on the seat of judgement; it’s much harder to be the one standing before that seat. But we all deserve to be there. I don’t look at this man with judgement in my eyes, I look in the mirror and say, “There but for the grace of God go I.”

Thankful today for
678. Grace
679. My Christmas packages already ready to mail
680. A decorated house
681. Advent
682. A promise fulfilled
683. Laughter
684. Dog hair (’cause it means we have a dog)
685. Amazon.com
686. Shared life
687. That my eldest doesn’t need me to get up with him on school mornings
688. The ability to reason
689. My children’s health