The wind howled in the darkness as rain pounded relentlessly on the tin roof. The floods raged, and the children clung to each other, terrified and holding on for dear life. When dawn broke on that Texas morning, an eerie silence enveloped the air, and the shock of death and destruction stretched as far as the eye could see. How can families survive the trauma of losing the sound of a child’s laughter forever? How do we endure the heartache caused by such a catastrophic weather event?
On Valentine’s Day, teenagers gathered in front of their high school in Florida. It was a typical Wednesday morning, promising a regular school day ahead. The bell rang, signaling the start of classes. However, what began as an ordinary day quickly transformed into an afternoon of tragedy. Seventeen students and faculty members lost their lives, and eighteen others were injured. Parkland, Florida, would never be the same. How do parents cope with the loss of their child’s laughter forever due to gun violence?
In the Middle East, children beg for scraps of food amid the horrors of war. “Will today be my last day?” a little boy asks his sister, who has no answer. Clean water and safety are scarce, and finding them takes all her energy. With their parents and baby sister gone, she struggles to keep going and dreams of a day when laughter will return and the war no longer claims innocent lives.
Earthly beings will always coexist with tragedy. We will see horror, experience pain, and search for joy. What is most surprising is that we continue onward, never giving up, and remain hopeful.
After learning about his children’s deaths in Texas, their father said, “I know they are safe with God.” In the aftermath of floods, tornadoes, fires, and hurricanes that devastate communities, those most affected often declare, “God will help us!” They express this belief with such certainty, and I genuinely believe it to be true. Grief will come, but so will exceptional strength and resilience. It is their unwavering faith that sustains them in the face of such overwhelming loss.
In the face of disaster, we often witness the best of humanity emerging in the most challenging conditions. The question then becomes, must it take a raging river, a school shooting, or a war to bring out these qualities?
I met a lovely woman who had recently lost her husband. She also lost both her sons due to one tragic event after another. Yet, if you could see her face, you would be amazed. Her faith lights up the room, and she openly shares how God saved her by sending her reminders that all her loved ones are doing well, living with Him.
Michele Davis, the mother of Carter Davis, who was tragically killed by a mentally ill young man wielding a gun, has channeled her grief into helping others who experience similar pain. Along with other mothers who have lost children, they formed the group
Warrior Moms
. Together, they have written a book titled “
Grieve Like a Mother, Survive Like a Warrior
” to provide guidance and support for those needing help to heal.
Time and time again, we are blessed by those who possess such faith even in the worst of times. They are the inspiration, reminding us all to appreciate the time we have and fill it with happiness.
Oh, they have their moments when they wish they could watch their children marry, meet the grandchild they will never see, or wonder why such horrible things happen. They doubt, they question, but their faith takes over and they continue to walk life’s journey one day at a time, holding onto memories and God’s mighty hand.
Kindness is what saves lives, and faith supplies hope.
From the pain we endure, we gain wisdom. Tragedy has a way of shifting our perspective, making us acutely aware of life’s fragility. Yet, it also reveals the resilience and compassion that lie within us. In the face of disaster, we often witness the best of humanity emerging in the most challenging conditions. The question then becomes, must it take a raging river, a school shooting, or a war to bring out these qualities?
Did anyone ask the man drowning if he was a liberal or conservative, rich or poor, legal or illegal, gay or straight, before pulling him out of the floods? The answer is “No.” So, why do we condemn others in the calm of a typical day? Kindness is what saves lives, and faith supplies hope.
Today, it is unwise to complain about the hot sun, nor do I want to fuss over what to serve for dinner. I won’t nag my husband to water the grass or whine about the price of eggs. Instead, I will remember the raging river, the sounds of gunfire, and the bombs exploding in a world far away. If I can set aside my selfish behavior, perhaps that will honor the child whose laughter was forever silenced.
God, please hold tight those who need your comfort.
__________
Lynn Walker Gendusa is a Tennessee-raised, Georgia-residing author and columnist. Her latest book is “
Southern Comfort: Stories of Family, Friendship, Fiery Trials, and Faith.
” She can be reached at
www.lynngendusa.com
.
For more of her inspirational stories,
click here
.
