When Life Stinks and Evil Strikes

Thanksgiving is two weeks down the road. Right around the bend and over a couple of hills there is Christmas. Those two holidays have been celebrated by some of us many, many times. Most of us are counting on turkey, dressing and all the fixings, maybe for both holidays, along with the Christmas trees, presents, and several dinners with family and friends. That’s just what we enjoy, and what we do at these times of the year. We are looking forward to the holidays and are counting on being involved in the festive celebrations as always.

There are people just like us that will be doing something else this Thanksgiving and this Christmas. The people at Southerland Springs, Texas will be looking at these special dates differently because of one man who in a matter of minutes took the lives of twenty six people who were simply worshipping God. On October 1 fifty-eight people were killed and over five hundred were injured while enjoying a concert because one man decided to destroy as many lives as he could. This year has seen hundreds of lives snuffed out all over our nation because someone decided that they wanted to kill, hurt, and maim innocent people.

Hundreds who enjoyed the holidays last year are not going to do so this year, and I imagine everyone of them were looking forward to turkey and Christmas trees. Thousands will be grieving during Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. The holidays won’t be the same for them because their loved one tragically died.

I also think about a friend who is currently in a hospital fighting to stay alive. Last year he was healthy, enjoying life and planning to enjoy being with family and friends to express his thankfulness to God, and celebrate the birth of his Savior. I’m sure he remains thankful and will do what he can to celebrate Jesus birth, but this year he will have to do that in a different way. I am also confident that the people in that small Texas community will find the strength through their faith in God to be thankful and celebrate the birth of the Christ child.

We never know what will happen. None of us know for sure what the next two weeks will bring our way, or what kind of Christmas we will have this year. My heart aches for those affected by these evil acts, for my friend who is so sick, and certainly for his dear family. Our lives have been changed by the senseless tragedies of recent days. And our lives are affected when our friends are hurting because of illness.

May we truly be thankful this year and be blessed as we celebrate this Christmas. At the same time let’s not forget these who are hurting and grieving due to these unusual tragedies this year. And be sure to remember our friends who are seriously ill. If you are healthy, and your family is doing well you are extremely blessed and have much for which to be thankful. Praise God in the good times, but remember to praise him in the not so good because we never know what tomorrow may bring.