Daily Truth: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are my ways higher than your ways, And my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9
I am not packaging the Boston Tragedy into a neat and tidy Christian package with expected answers. This is Christianity at it’s rawest…when we don’t know the right answers and we are wondering the same things as our children. Yet, we can put our confidence in a God who cares and the Truth of His Word..
We all saw the pictures: the smoke, the chaos, the pain, the sorrow, the victims, and the heroes.
We heard the reports: the cries, the shock, and the unbelievable.
Boston has brought up many interesting conversations with all of my children and with many of my friends.
We sat back and wondered, “What is happening in our world that even an event such as the Boston Marathon would be a bomb sight?” What should have been a time a rejoicing over such elite accomplishments turned into a time of utter horror.
We all held our children a little closer that night and the days and nights afterwards.
Although we did our best to shield our children from the horrors of Boston, they still picked up on it.
So, how do we deal with these events and our children? “Oh, my child is only 2 or 3. They don’t know what happened?” Really? Don’t you think they can sense the fear and hear our anxious hushed whispers and sense that something isn’t right. How do we answer their questions honestly, appropriately, and based on God’s Truth.
1. Remind your children that all are born sinners (Rom. 5:12) and we all have sinned (Rom. 3:23). Without Jesus we are capable of doing horrible things.
2. Remind your children that God is not surprised by what happens. He knew all along that events at Boston were going to occur. (Ps. 139:15-16)
So, why did God allow it to happen?
3. Tell your children we don’t know all the “why’s” about God. But one thing we are certain of is that God’s ways are so much higher than our ways (Is. 55:8-9) and His way is always best (Ps. 18:30)
4. Remind your children that God knows are sorrows and our fears (Heb. 4:15, Ps. 56:8)
5. Pray with your children for their safety and for the safety of those around them (Mt. 19:14, Ps. 91:11)
Am I a little nervous about running the Indianapolis mini? Honestly, yes. However, I cannot let the events of Boston dictate how I live. Yet, I can use the events of Boston to teach my children many valuable lessons. Most certainly of all, that my God is in control and my life is in His hands.
I was in a store with my tots the Tuesday afterwards and before I could stop them, they were glued to a TV that was replaying the bombing at Boston. Micah, my 5 year old said,”Mom, why was there a bomb at the marathon?”
“I don’t know, honey.”
“Is there going to be a bomb at your marathon?”
My heart stopped. This little 5 year old put it together that people were running a race and there was a bomb and my mom is going to be running a race soon. Is there going to be a bomb?
I got down on my knees in front of him, held his little hands, and said,” Micah, we need to pray for those families that got hurt and pray for mommy and all her friends that God will keep us safe in our race.”
Right there, in the middle of the store, a 5 year old petitioned our Heavenly Father for the safety of his mom and her friends.
Until next Monday and hopefully we will discuss “Dress Rehearsal”,
Rebekah
