this world

This world in which we live in is filled with evil.  Everyday, millions of people all around the world have their days filled with tragedy.  But on the other hand, everyday, millions of people all around the world have their days filled with joy.  After the death of a girl who I went to high school with, I was plagued with this thought: Here is a whole town grieving for this girl's loss, realizing the fragility of life, and the rest of the world seems to be going about their day to day activities without even realizing the pain our town has been in. 

And then yesterday, I found out that one of the little girls we met in the Dominican Republic this summer, along with her siblings, had to watch her father murder her mother.  How absolutely heart breaking.  No child, under any circumstances, should have to go through a tragedy like that one.  

When I found out about the news, I was at work.  A co-worker made a joke about hammering someone immediately after (the murder weapon was a hammer. what are the odds?).  Didn't my co-worker know? Didn't he realize the insensitive joke he had just made? How was his heart not breaking? But he doesn't know this little girl.  He doesn't know the pain that this news brings me.  And that doesn't make him a bad person. At all.

But it really made me wonder.  If he didn't know about this, then what tragedies are the people around me facing that I am unaware of?  

Man.  Who have I unintentionally hurt or offended because I didn't know what they were going through at that point in their lives.  And I'm not saying that we have to tip-toe around everyone or not make any jokes for a precaution of hurting someone's feelings.  But it does remind me of that quote about not knowing other battles people are fighting.  

I ask that you would continue to keep the girl from my hometown who drowned in your prayers as well as the sweet little girl I met in the DR and her family.  I cannot even imagine what she is going through.  To read more about her, feel free to click on this link. 

My confession: Due to recent events I have been effected by, I will try to consciously be more aware of those around me and what battles they may be facing. And I challenge you to do the same, to take the time to find out what is happening in the lives around those you surround yourself with.