My Thoughts On Uvalde, Texas

I Peter 3:8-12

I have hesitated to say anything on Facebook about what took place in Texas because I wanted to weigh my words carefully. Also, because the last thing these families need right now if for the loss of their loved ones to become politicized. What they do need is our love, support, and prayers. This is especially true for those of us who are Christians! We need to be lifting these families up in prayer. I cannot imagine being in their shoes right now. I could not imagine being a teacher and having to walk the halls of that school again. THEY NEED OUR PRAYERS!

For us, Tuesday was our last day of school. So, Wednesday (yesterday as of me writing this) was our first day without students. I love my kids! But, after a long school year there is an excitement within all teachers to reach post planning. None of my co-workers brought up the school shooting, and so I didn't either because I did not want to be a downer. That being said, there was a part of me that wanted to see my kids one more time. Even though Uvalde, Texas is almost 12,000 miles from my where I live, I wanted to see that my students were ok. I wanted to be able to answer their questions as best I could. I wanted to be able to reassure them that it is still safe to go to school. I wanted to be able to tell them one more time that they are loved. But, for the most part, that opportunity has passed.

I know that there are passionate people on both sides of the arguments for school safety. I'm not going to argue a position here. If I had my way, there would never be a gun in any school carried by any person, good or bad. School SHOULD be a place that is safe. It SHOULD be a sanctuary from that chaos that is many kids lives. It SHOULD be a place where adults who CHOSE the profession come to love, nurture, and invest in children. There SHOULD NOT be barbed wire around a school because it SHOULD be a safe place. There SHOULD NOT be metal detectors, police, or even K-9 units at schools, because it SHOULD be a safe place. However, many times this is not the case. So, schools have put protective measures in place because we do the best with what we have to ensure the safety of our kids.

Those that know me well know that I have no love for the media. I'm not going to go on an anti-media tirade right now, but I do want us to consider something else. All summer long our kids will hear about this shooting. This is especially true because we have mid-term elections this year. Then, in August we will expect our kids to go back to school. For two months they are going to be told how unsafe schools are and then we will expect them to walk back into a school. As adults, we need to be mindful of what we are saying around our kids. There is a need for honest and age appropriate discussion. But we should also protect them from the 24 hour news feeds that are pushing their agendas. School should no be something they are terrified of because of the amount of media coverage we are all exposed to.

Finally, I want to leave you with the words of Peter. In I Peter 3:8-12 he wrote:

Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; 9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For

“He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. 11 Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”