On May 24, 2022, just 2 days shy of the last day of their school year, 19 precious children and 2 amazing teachers died at the hands of pure evil. As the story is still unfolding there are so many unanswered questions and political rhetoric surrounding that dreadful day. From law enforcement failures to gun control. Much of the conversations have placed a lot of emphasis on these two issues while parents, friends, colleagues and families are riddled with grief and unfathomable loss.

On the same night there was a vigil held for the students and the teachers that were murdered, I was catering a High School graduation party for my cousin’s children. One born at 1 pound and 15 ounces who has defied all odds to even get to graduate from High School. His first cousin has had her own set of challenges with a mom who suffers from MS (Multiple Sclerosis). Both graduate’s lives filled with their own unique circumstances, but they are still here. The celebration was grand and as it happened one day after the horrible massacre of a classroom of 4th graders the accomplishment took on a whole new meaning to the graduates, their peers who attended, the parents and those of us who are a part of this beautiful family. We were all so grateful to celebrate, but at the same time still bewildered by the devastating loss suffered in Uvalde, Texas. We couldn’t help but think of the 19 families that will never get to celebrate their child graduating from High School. All of the parents who were there have children that were blessed to escape the horrors of a school shooting, which unfortunately is not uncommon in this country. It was definitely bitter sweet.

Rather than focus on the conversations surrounding gun laws and the inability of law enforcement to protect the lives of those children, my heart today aches for the parents, families, the survivors and staff of Robb Elementary. They have a long long road ahead of them. Their lives will never be the same again. The thought of that is just heartbreaking. Trauma changes you. Forever! I am praying for these families. Praying for all who are affected by this tragedy. I implore you to do the same. Don’t get tired of their stories. Don’t forget about them like you may have already forgotten about the elders that were slaughtered at the grocery store exactly a week before this mass shooting. Write the date down and the names if you must so that you can remember their families in prayer. They will need it far beyond today, tomorrow, next week or 10 years from now. That’s the thing. When the news is no longer reporting these stories, we move on to the next headline.

Y’all we have to pray without ceasing. II Chronicles 7:14 tells us “If my people ,which are called my name, shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”  Our land needs healing. Our children need to feel protected and safe.

This week has been heavy. These last two weeks have been overwhelmingly exhausting emotionally and mentally.

Both of the gunmen over the last two weeks were 18 years of age. Think about that for a moment. The latest research shows that the average age of gunMEN (they have all been males) that have carried out mass shootings at schools is 18.

I’m praying that whatever good can come from all this tragedy will include change. Not just in our gun control laws, but that we change the way we parent. Change and conditioning has to start at a very young age. These young men who have grown up to be mass murderers were cute lil babies held by their parents who looked into their eyes and saw promise and potential. What happened from that moment to when they decided to purchase high powered rifles and loads of ammunition? What happened from the time they were an innocent 4th grader to posting messages of hate on Social Media prior to committing a heinous crime? There has to be change in how we parent. Change in how we communicate with our children. Change in what we expose them to at an early age. I know this post took a quick turn and these are hard questions, but it’s a conversation we need to have. These are questions we need to explore and answer. Our future depends on it.   

I’m praying our takeaway from these current events will impact each of us in a way that will compel us to look at these lives that were taken away far too soon and DO SOMETHING!!! I pray we are better parents, grandparents, Godparents, uncles and aunts. It absolutely takes a village! If you see something, say something. If you don’t agree with something, have a conversation about. Don’t turn a blind eye. Don’t ignore signs of behaviors that may be linked to trauma or something inappropriate going on in your family. Get help if you become overwhelmed with the responsibility of parenthood. None of us were handed a manual on parenting. There are plenty of resources available. Google can point you in whatever direction you need to go. Most Companies have Employee Assistance Programs that can provide resources for therapy and all kinds of assistance for you and your children.

Let’s do better. Do better for our children’s sake and for generations that follow.

Continued prayers for all families across this country that have suffered loss due to gun violence. I’m committing to remember to keep them lifted.

Keep #NormalizingHardConversations. Don’t be afraid to dig deeper into the minds of the lil impressionable people in your family. Talk to them on whatever level you feel they are prepared to have dialogue about what is happening in their lives. Take advantage of them being inquisitive and those teachable moments.

Proverbs 22:6 says “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.”

Peace and many blessings to you.

I love y’all!

#FaceitFridayswithDalya

#NormalizingHardConversations

Doing all things well,

Dalya