The Gift of Peace

The events of the past few days have made me sad - beyond belief. 

 

Early this week my heart was deeply touched by tragedy at a shopping mall not many miles from my home. The senseless shooting at a big shopping mall here in Oregon where I often shop, left two dead and one young woman seriously injured. It was a miracle that more were not killed or injured. If the shooter’s gun had not jammed we don’t know what the final outcome might have been.  Stories of bravery and acts of heroism abound in the wake of the event.

 

Then, again, yesterday when news broke about the senseless killing of innocent children and brave adults in Connecticut, I watched in disbelief.  My heart aches for the parents and loved ones who lost their children and dear ones for reasons that don’t make sense.  Stories of the quick thinking and brave actions of teachers and staff that protected the other children amazed me.  It reminded again that there are good people who will step forward when the see a need.

 

Late yesterday afternoon I got an email from Marilyn, a dear blog friend, of Cottage Lamps, Etc. (formerly The Cutest Cottage Lamps).  An email from Marilyn is not uncommon – we have been emailing each other for quite some time.  She often sends cute, little things that make me smile.  Often her emails are so funny that I sit here and laugh out loud.  She lives just a few hours away from my home and her home is a short distance from my sweetheart’s brother’s home.  We have talked often of getting together the next time we visit family there.  We talked about it but life seemed to get in the way and it never happened.  So, we recently decided that it was going to happen next year.  For sure!  We made plans for my sweetheart and I to meet her and her hubby at a favorite lake high in the Cascade Mountain Range next summer.  It’s a lake we both enjoy and our fellows were looking forward to time to get acquainted and enjoy fishing together.  Marilyn and I planned to talk and laugh and just enjoy being together.  We knew we wouldn’t run out of things to say!  Late yesterday afternoon I received an email from her - and email that I was not prepared to read.  Her email said that her husband, Roger, died shortly after falling from a parade float he was working on for their hometown parade.  My tears flowed and my heart ached for her.  Please pray for Marilyn and for their family - I know she would appreciate it more than words can say.

What do we do in times like this?  We pray and hug our dear ones a bit closer.  We tell the people who mean a  lot to us that we care for them.  We can’t, for one moment, take time with them for granted.  And we pray for our families and friends.  And our country and our leaders and the people who so valiantly step into the front line of danger to protect us and anyone else who is in harm’s way. We love and support those who have lost the ones who mean more than life to them.  And we remember that the only real peace comes from God alone!  He is our peace.  In the good times – in the bad times.  When we understand – when we don’t.

Jesus said:
’I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart.
And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give.
So don’t be troubled or afraid.’
John 14:27
(New Living Translation)