Mass killings in Paris,
Colorado Springs, and, a few hours ago, in San Bernardino bring tears to my
eyes.
My heart grieves for victims’
loved ones and for the wounded, especially those in critical condition.
I grieve for our cities and
schools and neighborhoods and nation.
We’ve witnessed too many
bloodbaths. According to the Washington Post, the mass shooting in San
Bernardino was only one of two yesterday in the U.S., and the 355th
of 2015. And it was “at least the third mass shooting since the rampage in
Colorado Springs last Friday.”
Way too many of us are
staggering beneath the weight of those grave events in our nation and world.
Such disasters leave us
shattered even if they don’t happen in our own neighborhoods. They leave adults—and
children—shaken. Dazed. Scared.
I grieve for our young
people.
What are mass murders doing
to our children and grandchildren?
We can’t keep them from
hearing news reports. They’ll hear one way or another, and most schools
nowadays conduct regular drills to prepare for violent intruders—and even the
drills conjure up terrifying what-ifs. Little kids (and even big kids), traumatized
with worry, ask:
“Will something like that
happen in my neighborhood?”
“If my mommy and daddy are
killed, who will take care of me?”
“What if something like that
happens at my school? Will I die?”
Those are crushing loads for
young people to bear.
How can you help young ones
in your family?
Mr. Rogers said, “When I was
a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look
for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day,
especially in times of ‘disaster,’ I remember my mother’s words and I am always
comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers—so many caring
people in the world.” (Fred Rogers)
Think of those helpers, those
special people: law enforcement and emergency personnel, community leaders, clergy,
medical professionals, good Samaritans, teachers, and so many more.
How can you comfort your
young ones like Mr. Rogers’ mother comforted him? What stories can you tell
your kids and grandkids and great-grands that will calm, encourage, and help
them trust God?
Write vignettes for your
memoir, stories that show how you or others dealt with frightful experiences,
threats, war, or violence.
Write stories about the kind
of helpers Fred Rogers’ mother spoke of.
Write stories that will teach
young people to pray and to watch for God’s answers.
Write stories of God’s help
and His healing afterward. Include Bible verses and God’s promises.
Pray for God’s help
in writing your stories—
stories that will give
readers
comfort
and hope
and courage
and strong faith.
Perhaps one day
they’ll say words similar to
Mr. Rogers’ words,
something like:
“To this day I remember
my mother’s/father’s/
grandmother’s/grandfather’s
words,
and I am always comforted….”
