My heart is heavy today, the sadness of the shooting events of Saturday, April 18 and Sunday, April 19 tear at my emotions. The mass shootings in Portapique, Nova Scotia is such devastating news, it takes my breath away.
How could anyone decide to carry out such a horrendous act? My condolences to each and every family member who is dealing with the reality their loved one is no longer here. No words can adequately express the pain I feel for your pain, suffering and the loss, that you are experiencing right now. My heart goes out to you. May God give you strength every moment.
For those of you who are family and friends of those who lost their lives, I pray you will remember how each one lived their lives, served their families and community (in their individual professions), the joys of life they enjoyed, the times they said “I love you”, not only in words but in the little things they did for you on a daily basis “that showed they loved you”. Their love for you can never be taken away (in life it was tangible) and now you will feel their love in so many ways. Perhaps it’s the last text on your phone, the last voicemail that you will never erase, the twinkling of a star in an evening sky which reminds you of the twinkling in their eye, the smell of their favourite food or coffee, or the beauty of a rainbow that reminds you of their beautiful colourful personality. Perhaps you’ll see someone in a distance that looks like him or her and you stop immediately in your tracks, hold your breath, because for a fleeting moment he or she is there, or maybe someone says something funny and you recall their sense of humor. Every time you see a butterfly just imagine it carrying their love to you - - in that very moment.
When Jesus was on the cross, between two thieves, one said to Jesus in Luke chapter 23 verse 42, ”Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom!“ And Jesus said to him in verse 43, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise”. Today my prayer is that “each precious life” taken on Saturday and Sunday are today in Paradise with Jesus. Their lives taken too soon from earth, so I pray, each one will be well rewarded for being a good and faithful servant to their family, friends and community. May they live in the “fulness of joy “ in heaven, with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
God shares our pain (His son was murdered on an old wooden cross) and He walks us through our pain, and brings comfort to us, as we are told in Psalm 23 verse 4. The Lord truly is, Our Shepherd.
In a time such as this it is hard to think about love in your pain and sorrow, and yet only love can heal your broken hearts. I can only imagine your loved one saying to you, “Life must go on, do not be robbed of life in my death, please, honour my life in moving forward helping each other and making “our memories“ precious and know I am loving you still - - from a distance”.
When my brother was murdered 31 years ago it was knowing he wanted me to remember his life, his love and to be with his family, that allowed me to walk through my grief and begin my healing process. Working through grief is personal for everyone who must walk through that valley and each one will do that in their own time. You may want to share your grief with someone, or you may want to do that privately, it is entirely up to you. On your own terms and in your own time.
I remember using a scripture verse that helped me back then and now may it help each one of you.
From the Good News Bible,
1 Corinthians Chapter 13 verses 6, 7 and 8 and then verse 13
(6) love is not happy with evil, but is happy with truth
(7) love never gives up; and it’s faith, hope, and patience never fail
(8)Love is eternal.
And verse 13 says:
Meanwhile these three remain; faith, hope, and love and the greatest of these is love.
In your sorrow and grief, love each other, hold one another, cry with each other, wipe away the tears of the one you’re holding in your arms and remember the one who is gone wants you “to go on and live life to the fullest in memory of them”. Tell each other “I love you”, as we can never say this enough and we can never hear it enough.
Again, my deepest condolences to each and everyone. My prayers are raised to our Heavenly Father today to bring you peace and comfort as only He can, in a time such as this in your life.
Let your love, be the tie that binds you together as family, friends and community as this is widespread. Let compassion, be your strength as you help one another through and let your faith, be the promise that (25) Jesus is the resurrection and the life.(26) All who believe in Him, though they die, will live to the glory of God.
John chapter 11 versus 25 and 26 reminds us of this promise.
Please be comforted by His Holy Presence, setting your focus on heaven where your loved one now resides for eternity, in their “Mansion Over The Hilltop” and have been introduced to “The Lord, Who is their Shepherd”.
I ask everyone who reads this today to please hold in prayer everyone whose life has been changed by this tragedy in these past two days. Let’s wrap our arms of love around them, even if we do not know them personally, but God knows each and everyone, by name. He will hear our prayers and send His love and peace to comfort them.
Thank you for raising up your voice in prayer. God will be faithful to the fulfillment of your prayer.
Bless you all in this day.
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