Innocent Children of Sandy Hook Elementary

As I was looking through Facebook I came across this picture and poem. My heart is still heavy over the loss of these innocent children and adults.

'Twas 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38
When 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven's gate.
Their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air.
They could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.
They were filled with such joy, they didn't know what to say.
They remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.
"Where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.
"This is heaven," declared a small boy. "We're spending Christmas at God's house."
When what to their wondering eyes did appear,
But Jesus, their Savior, the children gathered near.
He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.
Then He opened His arms and He called them by name.
And in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring
Those children all flew into the arms of their King
And as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,
One small girl turned and looked at Jesus' face.
And as if He could read all the questions she had
He gently whispered to her, "I'll take care of mom and dad."
Then He looked down on earth, the world far below
He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe
Then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,
"Let My power and presence re-enter this land!"
"May this country be delivered from the hands of fools"
"I'm taking back my nation. I'm taking back my schools!"
Then He and the children stood up without a sound.
"Come now my children, let me show you around."
Excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.
All displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.
And I heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,
"In the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT."

Written by Cameo Smith, Mt. Wolf, PA

In Matthew 2:16-18, it speaks of Herod realizing he was outwitted by the Magi when they did not disclose where Jesus was. Herod was threatened by the presence of an Almighty King he heard so much about. He ordered the death of all the boys under 2 years old in Bethlehem and its vicinity. In verse 18 it says, “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.” This did not make it in any other historical accounts in the Bible, yet it doesn’t make it any less tragic. Our world today is still filled with brokenness and pain. It doesn’t ever get any easier to deal with innocent deaths.

Let me encourage you to pray for the families and ask the Lord to help you comfort those who mourn. God did not cause this massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary just like He didn’t in Bethlehem many years ago. There are people still today who make wrong, ungodly choices that kill innocent life. But I know that my God promises to never leave us nor forsake us in these times. Pray for God to use you as a vessel of healing for those who are questioning and hurting.

It has been good to participate in the Jesse Tree this year. It has brought so much meaning and depth in our family's Christmas on recalling God’s hand throughout history. On Sunday I hear the special quartet is going to return and sing a song to help us bring in Christmas. Some of you may remember them from last year. You won’t want to miss it.

Tonight is going to be a wonderful time of bringing in the Hope of Christ in this broken world we live in. Come and join us as we bring our families and hold them just a little tighter because we can…

Joy in Jesus!

Pastor Mike