As We Remember Newtown Connecticut and Sandy Springs Elementary School, Please Also Remember

Rickey Stokes

Viewed: 2581

Posted by: RStokes
Date: Dec 17 2012 10:21 PM

DOTHAN:  In a weekend text message with Dothan Police Captain David Jay, Commander of Dothan Police Criminal Investigation Division, he reminded me of the need to lift up the men and women of emergency services in Newtown Connecticut.

Captain Jay is absolutely correct. While we remember the 26 victims, the victim’s families, we need to remember the brave men and women of the law enforcement community, fire community, medical community, crime scene, forensics, coroner and medical examiner teams.

Having personally been involved myself in over 1,000 death investigations, one single death is tragic. Having personally been involved where three or more persons were killed is tragic and heartbreaking in dealing with the family, the scene and the bodies.

Being law enforcement, fire, medical or other emergency service provider, responding to a scene where 20 young children ages 6 and 7, where 6 adults, are dead and there is nothing you can do, is a situation that all who provide these services grieve over.

The law enforcement, fire and medical staff always grieve when there is loss of life. Each serve in order to serve and protect, to save lives. Each serve to stop the crime and violence, and when you arrive when it is to late for prevention and to save lives, those providers grieve.

We Must Remember…

Our praise for GOD is not defined by our situations, but our praise for GOD is defined by WHO God is and what HE has done.

Many of us find God as a situational God. We minimize Him not to bother Him until we need Him. God is much bigger than us and He does not need us. We need Him. Then when we call on Him, we get frustrated when He does not respond the way with think He should.

GOD is great, God is mindful of us, God is awesome, God is merciful and God is in control.

As the emergency service workers deal with the grief of the helplessness of what happened in Newton Connecticut, each must lean on GOD and give praise to him, remembering He is merciful and in control.

Again…in the words of Pastor Jim Tate on Sunday, “our praise for God is not defined by our situations, but our praise for God is defined by Who God is and what HE has done”. The reference scriptures by Brother Jim came from Luke 1: 46 - 56.

Focus on the victims and not the suspect

Media in general give a lot of attention to the suspect, his background and seeking for motives of what caused the actions. No doubt, this tragic event is giving rise to the focus on the shooter.

The shooter was “evil”. No matter how it spins, evil controlled him and controlled his actions.

The focus should be on the lives of the 20 precious children which loss their lives while at school. A place they should be protected. The focus should be on the 6 adults that gave their lives in working to protect the lives of the children and others. The lady principal who attempted to take the shooter out and stop the violence and her life was taken.

Our focus should be, not on the shooter, but a time to examine ourselves, our community, state and nation about where we are at. What do we need to in order to change the direction of our course and path. Make a change which will make a positive difference and turn.

Not one of us are responsible for what happen in Newtown Connecticut. However, each of us are responsible for allowing the decline of our community, state and nation.

As Commander Jay said…

As we reflect and remember each precious child…remembering each one individually as a bundle of joy given to the families, the community and nation for a brief period of time. As we reflect and remember each precious adult that gave their lives to protect others. As we reflect about all of the students, faculty and staff of Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Please reflect and remember every man and woman involved in the emergency services and crime scene investigations and they go about their jobs in the days ahead.

Our praise for God is not defined  by our situations,, but our praise for God is defined by who God is and what He has done…Rev. Jim Tate on December 16, 2012.

<- back