Monday, October 27, 2008

Send up a Prayer

It's Monday. I have a very bad cold. And my heart is aching for Jennifer Hudson and her family. I'm sure by now you all have heard about the shooting deaths of Jennifer Hudson's mother and brother. And now reports are coming in that the body of a little boy believed to be Jennifer Hudson's nephew was found in an SUV. To say that I'm saddened by all of this is an understatement. This tragedy is any one's worst nightmare come true. Please send up some prayers for her and their family.

What I don't understand - what I'm sure NONE of us can understand - is how anyone can hurt, let alone MURDER, a child. It's unfathomable. Just this past weekend, a mother in Brooklyn admitted to beating her 11 year old daughter to death. She beat her so badly, the broomstick she used to hit her had broken in two. This woman already had one child taken away from her and placed in foster care because she attacked her - pulled a chunk of her hair out. In addition to the 11 year old, she has three other children ages 1, 3 and 6. Why did they not remove ALL of the children? If the mother is a danger to one child, shouldn't she be deemed a danger to them all? I don't get it.

And this morning, as I brushed my teeth and listened to the news on tv, I heard that a 2 week old baby was found dead in the mother's Brooklyn apartment - no one knows what happened. Two other children were removed from the home.

What the hell is going on?

I can see going off on another adult. I can see an adult getting so angry in a fit of blind rage or jealousy that you strike another adult person. I can see wanting to hurt another adult who threatened or did something to your family. I'm not saying I condone it, not in the least. But I can see how one adult can carry out an act of violence against another adult.

But a child? An 11 year old? A 2 week old baby?

If a person can harm a child, he or she is either incredibly mentally unstable, or simply a monster who has a special place in hell designated just for them.

I just don't get it.

But then again, only crazy understands crazy, so maybe it's not meant for you or I to understand.

Just pray for them.

All we can do is try our best to protect the children - our children, your children, every one's children. Try to pay attention to the kids around you. They said the 11 year old had bruises and scabs all over her body. I wonder if that's something someone could have noticed? Listen to them, mentor them. Sometimes the signs are there, sometimes not.

I'm convinced more can and should be done. There is no reason children should be dying, especially at the hands of their own parents, the ones who are supposed to be loving and protecting them. The present belongs to us. We can do more to save them.

Take a moment today and send a prayer up for these families. Pray for their peace. There seems to be nothing more unnatural than burying a child. But birth is not the beginning of life, just as death isn't the end. God has them now. Those children are resting in the arms in the Lord, cuddled in His spirit and sleeping in His grace.

Take a moment.

Amen.

6 comments:

Dre Lew said...

Hi Brooke,

Yes…already on it. So sad ~ it seems to be a terrible place here and getting worst at these times. As we pray, let us hope that the day will come that all people (especially children) will be safe from senseless harm and danger. We may not be able to change the world all at one time, but let’s each take a corner of the world in which you live and be on guard for those close to you and around you!!! Maybe one day each of these little corners will be a large part of the world and we’ll start to see that change. Meanwhile, continue to pray.

Thanks for such an on point message ~ I don’t know if we will ever understand these things, other than that we need to do much better as a people.

Love and Peace,

Dre

Sandee said...

Silent Prayers have filled my head all weekend for J-Hud's family. This morning when I heard that the mother confessed to killing her 11 year old I instantly said a prayer for her. The Child is already in the arms of the Lord But the mother Lives in a world where she doesn't know the Gift and Blessings of our Lord and Savior. So she really needs my Prayers. She definitely needs to be punished but it is so sad to know that there are people out who are living in such a dark place that they are driven to commit such heinous acts against someone as innocent as their own child.

Brooke said...

Yes, people who can do these things need our prayers the most. I can't imagine what can be going on in your life that is so terrible that you can kill your own child. It's hard not to pass judgement on these adults, because children are so innocent, but only God knows their heart.

Peggy said...

These are the signs of the times... As sad and unfortunate as all these stories are, they need to happen. It breaks my heart and I can't wrap my brain around the pain that the families are feeling. I've been sending prayers to our Heavenly Father for peace, strength and understanding, but inside I'm also aware that these are the signs of the times.

Brooke said...

A sad sign of the times. I guess what makes it so sad is that these are innocent children. It's one thing to say that death signals that a life cycle is completed. But when you think about a 2 week old baby, it's like their life hasn't even really begun!

I know that there is an inevitability of death in all of us, but it's just hard to conceive the end of the lives of our loved ones period, let alone a child.

Sharika S said...

Hey Brooke,
This is so sad, I have been praying for the Hudson Family. I cant understand how someone could do this to an innocent child. It makes my stomach hurt just thinking about it. I cant imagine what Julia or Jennifer are going thru , to have the most precious people in your life taken away like that. UGH! Just horrible! and for the person or people involved in this heinous crime, I pray for them too. They have to be sick !! God will judge them accorgingly !!!!!

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