ENCOURAGING OUR CHILDREN
By Nanci Leeper
Since the horrid tragedy in Colorado I am sure like myself many other Mothers have sat and wondered, How in the World this happened and how could such things take place in our schools. There were many lives lost that Tuesday afternoon in April, but I want to take a moment and focus on the two young men who committed this horrific act.
We have heard from various news sources that these two young men were "troubled", they were not part of the "in crowd", they were not "jocks", and they had been teased and tormented by other students. These two young people placed their self worth in the opinions of others; they looked at themselves through their peer's eyes and not those of God.
We as mothers spend more time with our children, more than anyone else. We must point our children's focus to Christ. We must show them their worth in Christ, We must share with them the fact that God has a plan for their lives (Jer. 29:11). A plan for good and not evil. We must encourage our children that they are in this world but not of it. (John 17:16)
Society tells us that if our children play sports they are more likely to become successful, we are told as well that Girls who participate in sports are less likely to become pregnant. All of these things may be true, However I want to say to you that children who are taught the unconditional love of Christ can develop not self esteem but Godly esteem! Which will go much further in their lives than any sport trophy, beauty contest winnings etc. I am not saying that children should not participate in such activities, but we must teach them that there is only one opinion that counts, The opinion of Christ.
I have often wondered had these young men from Colorado known the unconditional love of Christ would they have made the same choices they made that faithful April afternoon? Had they placed their lives value in Gods hands would the pain and sting of teasing hurt as bad? What is these boys had seen themselves through Our Heavenly Father's eye's and not those of their peers and their own?
My sisters in Christ let us look at this tragedy and grow from it, let us encourage our children to see their beauty in His eyes. Let us take the moment to reach out to our children's friends and encourage them in the same way. Let us become part of our children's lives, an important part the role model and Godly Mom's we need to be
A survivor of Columbine wrote the poem below. Read her words and let us take them to heart.
In His Love, Nanci
A Normal Tuesday -By Heather Taylor
It was a normal Tuesday,
Or so it did seem,
But soon blood would scatter,
I'll lay the scene:
A mild day at school,
Until just before noon.
Silence in the halls,
Voices filled the rooms.
I sat in the cafeteria,
Just like normal, I ate,
I chatted with friends,
Not realizing our fate.
The room began to silence,
As we heard shots in the halls,
We heard people scream,
As the bullets hit the walls.
I looked up in an instant,
And saw the two boys,
It was Eric and Dylan,
With guns held like toys.
They wore black coats,
dragging down to their feet,
We all stood right up,
"Get out!" We'd repeat.
So I ran to the doors,
They frightened me so,
I turned to my friends,
And yelled, "Hey, let's go!"
But before we got there,
The boys had their fun,
They both began shooting,
Bullets flew from their guns.
We were all panicked,
The doors packed with kids,
Then I heard a shot,
My friend had been hit!
A tear ran down my face,
As I saw her lying in blood,
The boys were coming for us,
So I continued to run.
Down through the halls,
Looking for somewhere to hide,
The boys wreaking havoc,
With grenades close behind.
I turned into the library,
Where I could stay,
Away from the danger,
And blood shedding fray.
But they weren't finished,
No, they weren't done,
They came into the library,
To continue their fun.
The kids shook in horror,
As some were shot dead.
"Why should you live?"
The two killers said.
After they had killed,
All those innocent teens,
I wanted to cry,
After what I had seen.
But I kept silent,
So they wouldn't hear,
I watched them closely,
As I shivered in fear.
Our school was covered,
In blood and bomb shells,
The halls were all silent,
It was like being in HELL.
Back in the library,
As I hid and took cover,
I saw the two boys,
Who turned to each other.
"Good-bye" said one,
As he shot himself in the head,
Then the other did the same,
And his life came to an end.
I waited inside,
Until police came,
They uncovered unharmed,
And took those in pain.
We all got together,
And ran out of the school,
Hands over our heads,
Behind men in blue.
I turned and looked back,
To see the crime scene,
There wasn't a hint,
Of the murder within.
The SWAT team surrounded,
Every window and door,
With guns in their hands,
Still looking for more.
We stayed in a building,
People began to stare.
When some parents came,
There babies weren't there.
Knowing that their kids,
Might still be inside,
We all got together,
And started to cry.
There were 15 or so,
That had died, Police said,
The two suspects included,
Who'd been shot in the head.
I looked for my friends,
"They're all alive" I thought,
But one would be missing,
The one who'd been shot.
So many dreams,
Were shattered that day,
At our school once so safe,
15 lives took away.
So many lives,
Were changed 'cause of hate,
So don't take man for granted,
Before it's too late.
Don't play with emotions
Of people and peers,
Take other's lives seriously,
Or it all ends in tears.
