"The days are long but the years are short." Some days feel tortuously long. After a tragedy, you stop and wonder, "I can't believe it." The loss of anyone who is dear to us is heart wrenching. Today there is an indescribable void in homes, families, churches, schools, communities, everywhere. People are trying to make sense of it all. Our hearts break for the families. As a grandparent, we fear it could have been our grandkids.
It's often during times of utter tragedy that our hearts as Americans feel the deepest human connection. We've heard it a million times, "Don't take anything for granted." The mystery of life is that it has good and bad, ebb and flow, highs and lows. The one thing we can count on is that there will always be change. No one goes through life unscathed. When tragedy strikes, life is forever changed. I think, there but for the grace of God go I.
What to do?
Count your blessings and your gifts constantly. Have goals that are bigger than yourself. Do what you can to support the grieving. We need each others' prayers to get through this. Sharing sorrow and grief makes us all closer. We realize we are more alike than different. Do not think that Jesus is absent or oblivious to our struggles.
Desperate times have a way of reminding us of what's important. Try to make things right if they are not right. Truly know that small things can make a gigantic difference. Let's deal with sorrow and loss the best we can while continuing to make efforts to make this world a better and safer place. Everything, and I mean everything, has risk. Still, you have to live your life and not be consumed by your fears. Love every minute of the precious people in your life. Because we never know. We never truly know.
Peace, now more than ever.
Dave