I was supposed to write about a different topic but for some reason,
I found myself reflecting on the shooting tragedy which happened in
Colorado a few days back.
Perhaps
we are all aware by now that last July 20, during a midnight showing
of the movie, "The Dark Knight Rises", a gunman opened
fired in a theater in Aurora, Colorado. According to ABC News, most who
were watching that night were young adults, teenagers and young children with
their families. Atleast 12 people were killed including a 3-year old.
| As a mom, my heart goes out to the young, innocent victims and the families they left behind. |
I
may not know exactly what the bereaved families are going through right now,
but I believe that nothing could ever compare to the emotional pain of
losing a loved one.
I
was touched by an interview with the mother of one of the
victims, Jessica Ghawi, she said that "We were blessed to
have her every second,... We were blessed to have her.", as she remembers
her daughter. Such heartfelt words coming only from a
mother.
Indeed
people come into our lives as a blessing... especially the
people we love the most. It is difficult to imagine being in
this world without them.
But
on the other hand, it also makes me value life and relationships even
more.
I
am being reminded of an important thing in life which at
times I tend to take for granted - my RELATIONSHIPS with other
people and God:
Never
miss an opportunity to let the people we love know how precious they are
to us.
Time
spent with family and friends should be time well-spent. Let us
enrich our lives by loving the people closest to our hearts and make them
realize it more and more each day.
Invest
in relationships - even with people we've just met or have
met for a while.
A
simple act of kindness is sometimes all it takes to make a
difference. Thanking the guard who opened the door - even if he is
just doing his job. Smiling at the cleaning lady in a women's
restroom. A word of encouragement to a colleague at work...
We never
know - but it just might be what they need at a particular moment.
Share
the good news of God to as many people as we can.
If
God is alive in our hearts... people can see and experience it. Let
us carry on our call to evangelize. People tend to lose hope, courage,
meaning in their lives if God is not part of it.
Live
life to the fullest.
We
never know what the future holds. Make each moment count. Never
waste a day in our life feeling down and hopeless but always look forward to
God's plans and what life has to offer.
As
a missionary mom, I am being affirmed more and more of
the greatness of God's desire to be part of more lives - make
Him known to this world. Bring Him to more people in order
for them to get to know him in a deeper, more personal way.
For those who are
suffering and mourning, it may be tempting to ask... where is God
in all of these?
I believe we need
to realize that bad things happen when we take God out of our lives -
our sinfulness, our denial, our pride. We tend to push God away because
we feel that the world doesn't need Him.
Apart
from God, it is difficult to see goodness in this world.
But
no matter how much we push God away, He will always be there to comfort
us... to give us hope... to uplift us... and to bear our pains. All we
need is to ask and to seek Him amidst the tragedies happening around us.
Trust
that there will always be light at the end of every dark tunnel. God will
and can bring into light goodness and blessings out of any tragic moment.
- Samantha Catabas Manuel,
CFC Middle East
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