My Life as a COMMA!

As we woke up this morning, maybe the sting of what happened yesterday didn’t feel quite as strong to you.  But I can tell you, that to those in the community of Newtown, CT…… that is not what they felt this morning.

This morning they woke up and realized that the nightmare they thought they had through the night, was not just a dream, but their new reality.  They woke up to the realization that their babies were gone, friends were gone, parents were gone and innocence……lost.  Today is the first day of their new reality…..of trying to figure out just how to go on without their old “normal”.

The shock of yesterday has probably rubbed off for most of them….and the numbness has set in.  The motions of beginning to plan services, of what to wear, of how to continue……..  without…..their loved ones….

For us…who are so far away…..we still hurt.  We are still grieving with them.  We wonder what we can do and how we can possibly help. I’d like to give you a few ideas and suggestions to this.

1.) Pray. Pray for the families who have lost loved ones.  Not just the parents who lost children…but extended family who are not only grieving but trying to help their loved ones during this difficult time.  Pray that God would rain down His strength when they feel like they have no more strength. Pray that they will take time to crawl into the lap of God and just let Him hold them and cry.  Pray that they know His son, Jesus, and call on His name to comfort them. Pray that they somehow, find a way to understand that their loved ones are with God, and that through a personal relationship with Him, they can spend eternity together. Pray.

2.) Pray for the 1st responders.  This is so often overlooked.  But those people didn’t just do their job yesterday. They saw things no one should have to see.  Their lives were forever changed by what they witnessed and the evil they know is in this world. As they took the children out of the building, the kids were told to close their eyes…….but the first responders aren’t able to close their eyes.  They HAVE to look. They have to see….everything.  They have to document, discuss, write reports, search for clues and then remove bodies.  Yes, this is their job….but when children….especially so many children….are involved…..it effects them.  Pray that God will allow them to heal.  Pray that God will strengthen them and give them peace.  Thank God for them and the first responders in your own community for the job they do and the way with which they do so.  Pray that they would get the help they will need to deal with the most difficult situation they have had to deal with.  Pray.

3.) Pray for the children who saw and heard things that no one should ever see or hear.  Pray that they be able to heal. Pray that they feel loved and secure. Pray that He strengthen them and in their resilience, they show us how to go on again.  Children are such joyful and innocent beings……pray that is what helps them bounce back into the world and helps us see that life does go on!  They are our future and we must support them.  We can best do that by allowing them to go on and be kids.  Pray that this community does just this.  Pray.

4.) Pray for the teachers and the community. This community will never be the same. They will never be normal again.  But they can create a new normal that will include happy days and a feeling of security. Pray that with time, they will begin to feel love, joy and security again. Pray that they band together and hold each other up. Pray that they feel the love and prayers of a nation. Pray they will see Jesus through this dark, difficult time. Pray they rely on Him……and hold on to His promises. Pray.

If you feel like you want to do SOMETHING…….here are my suggestions….

1.) One of my oldest son’s friends, I call her my pretend daughter-in-law, has started Letters of HOPE!  After my boys died, each child in the school wrote me a letter or drew me a picture.  I also received many cards and notes from surrounding schools and others who just wanted to do something.  I still have every letter and they continue to minister to me! Her vision is to write a letter, a poem, do a drawing or share a song of hope to the community and especially the school and it’s children.  She would like them to be at the school when the kids return from their Christmas vacation.  If you’d like to participate, you can message me on facebook, Cheli Bartemy Porter, and I’ll get you more info!

2.) If you can’t do something in Connecticut, do something in your own community, in the memory of those lives lost in Connecticut.  Plant trees, do something kind for a stranger or adopt a family…….do something unexpected….out of love and show others Jesus through you!

3.) Turn off the TV.  Stop allowing our need to be satiated with all things going on in Connecticut send a message to the news stations that makes them stop and think interviewing children about this is not okay!!!

4.) Remember……..the sun will still shine and we still have good in this world! Stories are beginning to come out about teachers who shielded the children and sacrificed their own lives. I’m sure there will be many more untold stories of good.  Small silver linings in the midst of such darkness.  And….there will come a day when smiles will be on the faces of this community….

For those who are asking if there is a God……or how can a loving God allow this to happen…..I’ve been praying over my response to you.  You see, I can’t even think like you do.

I believe that God is a loving father.  I believe when He created us, He allowed us to have a free will so we could choose to either love Him or reject Him.  I believe He did this because He knew that it wouldn’t be the same if we were all made to love Him.  It isn’t true or genuine if it is forced and it just doesn’t feel the same.  I believe that in that same free will, He has allowed us to choose so many of our own consequences.  The truth is, mankind was not created to be good all the time. Jeremiah 17:9 (ESV) says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” Tragedies such as this can happen because men’s hearts are wicked and sinful, not because God somehow overlooked a certain population of people, or chooses to love and protect some more than others. HE is still good and worthy of their trust (and ours). I also believe that even those who have rejected Him, He still continues to love and pursue.  He weeps over the loss of your love and potentially the loss of your eternity with Him.

Psalm 34:18 says, ” If your heart is broken, you’ll find God right there; if you’re kicked in the gut, he’ll help you catch your breath.” the MSG.

another version translates as “The Lord is there to rescue all who are discouraged and have given up hope.” CEV

You see, as a parent, I get it.  If my kids only loved me because they HAD to….it wouldn’t mean as much.   I also get having to allow them to make their own mistakes.  IT STINKS!  I HATE IT! Especially when the consequences hurt them…..and can potentially hurt others.  But I also know that sometimes, there is no other way.  No way for them to learn…… the lessons of this life…..or that they need me to help.  We NEED God! But we are so busy trying to do this life on our own and think we know how to do and handle everything. We don’t.  We are part of a broken and fallen world in need of a saviour.  He has been given to us……but many, unfortunately, have chosen to not accept the gift of His salvation….His love….and His hope.

My prayer, is through this difficult time, through the darkness……everyone will find hope in the One who is the true light.  The promise of a rainbow after a storm is to remind everyone that above the dark clouds….the SON still shines…..and there is hope on the other side of this storm.  I pray for rainbows in Newtown, Connecticut.  In each and every heart I pray for the brokenness to be filled by the blood of the lamb.

“So always trust the Lord because he is forever our mighty rock.” Isaiah 26:4

“I trust you to save me, Lord God, and I won’t be afraid. My power and my strength come from you, and you have saved me.” Isaiah 12:2

In His love and with His hope…..love to you all! ~c