The Devil Walks Among Us

Yesterday a person took the live of the most vulnerable in our society.  An 18-year-old man killed 19 children and attempted to take the life of his own grandmother (who is currently in critical condition).  Children and elderly are people we are called to protect and as a nation, as a society, we failed miserably. 

Once again, we are left to pick up the broken pieces.  We are left with feelings of vulnerability, shame, anger, and fear.  This cannot keep happening.  I cannot keep writing this article time and time again.  Even with police officers on site, our young ones in the elementary school in Uvalde, Texas still felt the receiving end of death and carnage. 

The devil lives among us.  Anger, hate, disappointment, dissatisfaction, death, and chaos are the devil's attributes that are imbedded in our society, and it affects us all.  Uvalde, Texas is a small town, from what I read, 20,000 people.  I live in Altoona, PA with probably about the same amount of people.  The devil does not care whether you live in a big city, a rural town, or a small community like ours. 

This morning I had to take my two children into a place that now I have to question their safety.  I take them into a possible place that they can be harmed or even killed.  But more so it makes me think that as a parent I also could be possible that I am training the next possible killer. 

As a parent, my children are my responsibility.  I must be vigilant and aware of what they are going through and how they are feeling.  I also have the responsibility to raise them to have a strong mental fortitude, a healthy self-esteem, and instill in them that as Christians our primary goal is to always protect life. 

This is a call for all people with children, young or old.  Be aware of what your children go through.  You don’t have to be a restrictive jail warden, but you must continue to be caring and loving.  See all the stress that goes around them and how it may affect them.  Also be a person that can be a good example for them.  Be the model of responsibility, strength, and courage.  Some days will be easier than others, but if we can all wake up each morning and be positive, be diligent, be kind, then maybe, just maybe we can give less power to the evilness that struck our nation yesterday.  Maybe we can take away the powers of hate, anger, and death if we choose to live well and live responsibly each and every morning. 

Today we mourn with the community of Uvalde, Texas.  We feel the pain and hurts of our fellow brothers and sisters that have to painful wake up this day.  We pray for better tomorrows.  Today we reflect on our lives and how we choose to live it.  You have a choice each day and every moment to either be hateful or joyful, be retributive or forgiving, living or dying.  May God be with us during this time of healing.