This past weekend a nightclub in Orlando, Florida was the sight of the largest mass shooting in the states. 50 human beings including the shooter were killed - no basically slaughtered. It broke my heart. It may be far away from where I live, but yet it was right in my back yard to me. This is the 20th mass shooting in the past 8 years - each getting worse, and more violent, and the loss of life and broken hearts is never ending it seems. The shooter sided with an extremist group and also declared his hatred of LGBTQ groups. In my faith I do not believe it the LGBTQ cause - but I do believe in the people - and I have many friends who I very much care for. The plight will also make the Muslim faith a target yet again - and yet again, some of my sweetest, kindest, gentlest friends are Muslim. All are children of God, all are precious, all are my brothers and sisters. When I find myself afraid of being anywhere almost these days - my biggest fear is that my children will be hurt or their children. Like out of no where a lightening strike hits. Things can be replaced but people cannot. I cannot even fathom the aching hearts from this horrid event. As these events occur I find myself talking to each one of my children and checking in with them. The night of the shootings, after injured after injured human were moved to hospitals, the rain in Florida started falling. I pray it was to begin the washing or the healing somehow. The texts from inside the building from injured and dying humans to their outside loves were heartbreaking. Most were sent to their Mothers, telling them of their love for them. Of Mothers pleading for them to hold on. Then no more texts came.
Today - it's a thunder and lightening day in my state. The storms rolled in and pounded the valley. I was called off of work today and so it was sweet to just be home safe and sound and away from the storm. But my family was all out there in different places. Even one of my sons experienced the storm after it left us and it hit the state he was on a business trip for. We all seemed so far away. But then the texts started. Dozens and dozens of the funniest texts and videos of the storm were posted in our group text. Some movie lines were quoted, and cartoons loaded, and a lot of funny comments. I loved every one - because it meant we were still all ok. We were still a family that cares. The texts represented comfort and caring and our crazy sense of humor that exists. When the moments of fear came we heard from each other, we made plans for the weekend, we lightened the moment. How much it touches my heart that we have each other. All of the storms of life that come - the moments of absolute sadness and helplessness that are comforted by a simple text of... hey I love you. As long as I live I will try to live so that the word I say to my family are the ones that if they are my last - will ring true to the love I have for them, for the pride I feel for who they are, and the love and testimony that we chose a faith that we know where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going. I cannot live with fear but I can live with faith. This week we welcomed a Soldier back home, and we'll probably be welcoming a new little grand daughter into the world. We were blessed to have family travel safely on a trip and return home to a safe home. We have children traveling for work and know that they are watched over. We have new homes going to be started and new memories to make. In the storms of life - we have to still look to the good in life. When lightening strikes, we need to be prepared at all times to call upon our Heavenly Father for strength. Or to call upon him to comfort others where the storms are more vicious. Perhaps to a mother on her knees in Florida asking why. Are your ready for the storm?
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