This poem was written in response to the Parkland, FL school shooting on the first day of Lent, 2018. I add to it the events at the Capitol in Washington on January 6, 2021. Tragedy is a time of reflection, a time to examine our own mortality, and our need for God’s redemptive plan met by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ leading to eternal life and redemption.
“Heavenly Father, Creator of all things/ Abba, Father,/ Praised be Your name in the heavens and on earth/ For You have heard my cry;/ I can feel Your Presence/ Because Jesus brings me to Your loving arms/When I cry out to You for strength this hour./ My heart is heavy with grief/ Because Your children have strayed so far/From Eden’s perfection./
Senseless killing of students in a school/Brings me to tears. Do You weep too? /Mothers and fathers, sisters, brothers, spouses/Mourn for their beloved dear ones/ Ripped so quickly from their arms/Without words of goodbye/Lost potential, all with dreams for tomorrow/Now like withered grass blowing in the wind./
And for those parents, show Your mercy/ For You indeed know what it is to see Your Son/ Face the cruelty of violence and suffer death/ To pay sin’s penalty, Your grace to share./ Give them strength, share Your Sovereign power/ To face what comes next: / The empty chair, the silent laugh, the fading memories,/ The denial, the tears, the anger,/ And agonizing grief. /
Bring them before You/To feel Your compassionate Presence,/ Until they can forgive and heal soul-depth wounds./ May their strong testimony promote change./ May we see some good come from this tragedy./ Abba, Father, hold us all in Your arms/that we can find comfort/ In knowing that before even our first breaths, /You know the hour of our returning to You./ (Psalm 139) And that Your children, those who know You in this life/Are safely with You this day in paradise./
For all of us who mourn, bring peace/ That peace that passes all mortal understanding/ To fulfill our purpose, to love You well/ Until when our tasks are done,/ You call us Home for eternity with You, and them. Amen.
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