A Village Called Earth - Prayers for Ohio Shooting Victims and All Youngsters in Danger

[Barbara Quin - Prayer Cafe Mgr]

I posted this on Facebook today and instead of trying to rewrite something new, I'll just share my thoughts of earlier today... my heart is heavy with the pain of what some of our young people are feeling...

peace, love, and blessings to you all...

 

Shooting in Ohio school leaves one student dead and four others wounded - chaos for all concerned, I'm sure, but my heart is BREAKING for the families and students and all concerned. I don't often go on FB rants, but:
 

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE - people - let your children know you love them and care for them - maintain a relationship with them so you know when they are troubled and they know they can come to you when they are troubled! This is the second or third school shooting within about a week - everytime I read about or hear about these things, I lose my daughter (symbolically), because I know what it would do to me if it were my child involved in something like this, and how frightened she would be to even be in the same environment. 
 

Excuses that they are teenagers (last week's shooting involved THIRD GRADERS!) and that's just the way they are is inexcusable! 
 

If we LOVE our children, then love them enough to know the signs of trouble - there must be signs leading up to drastic actions. Tell your kids to talk to someone (parent, principle, counselor, policeman!) if they notice someone making what seems to be idle threats - a student told reporters that the suspected gunman in the Ohio shooting had "tweeted" that he was bringing a gun to school. I know no one is taken before their time, and radical situations can occur to make that happen, but these instances are shocking - they are a wake-up call to all of us.
 

It begins and ends with all of us - parents, teachers, aunts, uncles, friends, neighbors. Like it or not, we are in this Village called Earth and we should be looking out for each other. 
 

A prayer for all troubled families:

 

Dear God, please help people remember that You Love them! Let all people reach that place in themselves where they can stop, look, listen, and feel the Wholeness that is here for them. As we live and move and have our being within the very Body of Spirit, let us also know that we are connected in heart and mind. Let us be more willing to take time for each other, to lessen the haste in which we live our lives.
 

Make our ears hear the words others say, let our eyes see the joy or pain in their faces, and let our hands and hearts respond with Compassion and Unconditional Love. We don't have to agree with a situation to provide assistance and behold the Light of Love in it for the best outworking for all concerned, including the physical and emotional healing of all concerned.
 

May Spirit's pure presence of Love be perceived by the families of the students/children involved, and may they all find guidance and peace in the most healing way possible.
 

Namaste'

[Barbara Quin - Prayer Cafe Mgr]

It's a tragedy no matter how you look at it - I'm glad things worked out better for your community, Dawn.

 

I was thinking about the children today and why they lash out at school - I think ti's because that's their world - that's where they have social standing and power - or not - so to speak; and maybe in some weird way none of us understand, they are trying to save others their own pain - if they kill someone else, they think that person won't know the pain they have inside. I don't know.

 

All the more reason for us to look in the mirror and decide the kind of parents/guardians/adult role models we wnat to be - not only to the children but to each other...

 

Peace to you, Friends...

[Adine]

Amen....

[Rita Lewis]

Thank you Barbara for the beautiful prayer. Our children should be our first priority & in the crazy, busy & rushed society the children are often left unnoticed. I believe there are signs when a child is troubled even if they are only subtle signs we need to PAY ATTENTION111I join with you & everyone in prayer for all the children& the parents who are suffering from this tragic event.

Love & Peace & Blessings to all.

[Lois55 wwt]

Thank you, Barbara, for all that you do.....I wish all to continue to pray for the students and families of Chardon as a third student has died. So very very senseless!!!

[Rita Lewis]

Thank you Barbara for this beautiful prayer. I think our children should be our first priority & in this busy, chaotic overwhelming society that we live in sometimes we fail to notice that a child is troubled-We really need to PAY ATTENTION to even the most subtle changes in our childrens' behavior. This is a crucial time for us to have faith & trust in God's wisdom knowing that everything will enfold the way it is meant to be. May God bless all parents for having the most difficult job there is-raising a child with love, kindness, forgiveness, & compassion for others.

Love & Peace & Blessings to all of you & those in Ohio who are suffering great loss.
Rira

[Rita Lewis]

Thank you Barbara for this beautiful prayer. I think our children should be our first priority & in this busy, chaotic overwhelming society that we live in sometimes we fail to notice that a child is troubled-We really need to PAY ATTENTION to even the most subtle changes in our childrens' behavior. This is a crucial time for us to have faith & trust in God's wisdom knowing that everything will enfold the way it is meant to be. May God bless all parents for having the most difficult job there is-raising a child with love, kindness, forgiveness, & compassion for others.

Love & Peace & Blessings to all of you & those in Ohio who are suffering great loss.
Rita

[Tricia]

The world has become a scary place. 

Amen