For some reason, I didn't hear about the school shooting that was just a few miles from us until hours after it happened. For those who had heard about it, the reality of it still hadn't sunk in. But it was real, and I saw it the most in my own daughter's face after school. I was grateful to see those freckles, knowing that some mothers in the community wouldn't see their children's faces ever again after school, including the mother of the 14-year-old shooter; her heart is beating a nightmare.
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| image by elizabethaferry from Pixabay |
My daughter's own school was on lock-down for most of the day, and she was terrified, confused, and mournful. We discussed it for a long time after school.
She thought aloud of what doors a shooter may come in at her school. She thought aloud of where she'd be in the classrooms.
"There's no escape from the lunchroom, though," she continued. "It's just glass walls all around. There'd be nothing I could do, Mom."
I'm grateful she's talking to me and not bottling up her fears, but it was a tough conversation. My advice to her was to hit the floor flat if she couldn't escape. I had to tell my daughter what to do if a shooter is ever close to her. I never dreamed of having this type of conversation with my daughter.
This is what a mother-daughter conversation looks like these days. Why? The ruler of this world is Satan. Where there's darkness, there's demonic presence. Satan placed an end to several lives who had the chance to do great things for God. Satan has no parameters to whom he wants to destroy. Our children are prime targets. As we mourn in devastation, another tragedy brews in the darkness of demonic minds right now. Ephesians 6:12 tells us there's a battle going on for our souls. It's written in present tense: "For we . . . wrestle against . . . principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."
Although it was essential to speak to my daughter about it, we were surrounded by a whole community of mourning and shocked people. So, the best way to deal with and heal from a tragedy is to fellowship.
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| image by jaefrench from Pixabay |
Scripture gives us several reasons why we must fellowship, particularly in the midst of tragedy:
1. Fellowship prevents future tragedies while healing the present one. In II Samuel 11:1-17, David spent time alone, away from his military. He fell into sin; he slept with a married woman (Bathsheba), and David killed her husband (Uriah).
There's nothing wrong with having your own space, but fellowship gives healing during tragedies, and fellowship can prevent tragedies.
2. No matter what the tragedy (loss of loved one, hospitalization, victim of a crime, . . .), those who are affected and mourning always need the support of others. Even if it's not your tragedy, make your presence available (Job 2:11-13).
3. We must strengthen the unity of the church. We struggle together. We mourn together. We pray together. We worship together.
- We prayed for the families of the victims.
- We prayed for the family of the shooter.
- We prayed for the shooter.
- We prayed for our schools.
- We prayed for Apalachee High School.
- We prayed for the teachers.
I prayed for my husband. He's an administrator of a middle school. I want to see him come home every day until God takes him to his eternal home.
4. Spiritual leaders give their flock truths. For example, I had the opportunity to worship with two different youth groups on the two days following the tragedy. In both times of fellowship, we were reminded of God's truth. Through fellowship, we were introduced to some helpful points on how we can be empowered from our vulnerable state:
- God is always in control.
- God will always be glorified.
- We have a mission field everywhere we go.
- Do we have a personal burden to share the good news of Jesus?
Fellowship is not to overshadow our quiet time with God. Both are significant in our spiritual growth. Both rely on one another mutually: fellowship makes quiet time stronger; quiet time makes fellowship stronger.
When my dad died a year ago, it was a horrible tragedy for me. I felt broken and empty. God sent people to comfort me, and the fellowship was truly where I felt the arms of God around me the most.
Stand with your child in fellowship, particularly when they're not in the mood to be around other people. We're often not feeling up to seeing others, but it's important to place heavy weight on this value to your children in times of tragedy.
Teach them to hunger for fellowship. It's essential for spiritual growth.