My heart breaks for the families of students & faculty senselessly killed & injured yesterday at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims of this horrific violence. Drenched with sadness, it’s overwhelming to hear how a well-loved football coach shielded others with himself – sacrificing his life in the process – & how other quick-thinking teachers & staff saved lives in a school of 3,000 students.

When will this reckless violence & hate stop?

My planned Lenten post today seems a bit trivial, so here’s something else to hold on to. As events unfolded yesterday one of the images pictured a mother, crying, holding another mother for support as they waited to see if their children survived. Her head adorned with ashes in the form of a cross from Ash Wednesday, she wore a heart necklace (since yesterday also was Valentine’s?) I hope (& pray) her child survived, but in those darkest of moments, she represented what our faith is all about: the love of Jesus for us & with us in the deepest crosses of our lives.

“I fall on my knees before God the Father… and I pray that Christ may live in your hearts by your faith. And I pray that you, firmly fixed in love yourselves, may be able to grasp how wide and deep and long and high is the love of Christ—and to know for yourselves that love so far beyond our comprehension.”  (Ephesians 3:14-19. J.B. Phillips)

I drew that simple picture years ago during a tough time in my life. May the deep, deep love of Jesus heal & comfort hurting hearts & lives in Florida & all around our whacked out world.

grace, peace & hurting hearts

Virginia

“There is no cross, big or small, in our lives which the Lord does not share with us.” Pope Francis