{":Tragedy:"}

I'VE HAD TRAGEDY,

BUT I HAVE HAD LOTS OF JOY AND TRIUMPH.

-Coretta Scott King

WHEN YOU GO THROUGH

THE DEEP WATERS AND GREAT TROUBLE.

JESUS { I } WILL BE WITH YOU.

WHEN YOU GO THROUGH RIVERS OF DIFFICULTY,

YOU WILL NOT DROWN!

WHEN YOU WALK THROUGH

THE FIRE OF OPPRESSION,

YOU WILL NOT BE BURNED UP,

THE FLAMES WILL NOT CONSUME YOU.

FOR GOD IS { I AM } THE LORD,

YOUR GOD.

THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL,

YOUR SAVIOR.

Isaiah 43:2-3 Nlt

HEAVENLY FATHER,

NO ONE CAN EVER KNOW

THE TRUE MEANING OF THE WORDS

"TRAGEDY STRUCK HOME"

UNTIL TRAGEDY REALLY DOES HIT

THEM OR THEIR FAMILY.

I KNOW FIRSTHAND,

BECAUSE IT HAS HAPPENED TO US.

MY FIRST REACTION WAS FEAR.

AND THEN THERE WAS A

STRONG FEELING OF HELPLESSNESS

BECAUSE I REALIZED

THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO.

I AM ANGRY BECAUSE

I KNOW THAT THIS IS AN

OUTRIGHT ATTACK FROM THE DEVIL,

WHOSE SOLE PURPOSE

IS TO STEAL,

KILL, AND DESTROY.

BUT I AM GLAD

I CAN COME TO YOU -

THE GIVER OF LIFE -

AND ASK YOUR HELP

AS OUR FAMILY PULLS TOGETHER

TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER

THROUGH THESE DIFFICULT TIMES.

YOUR WORD SAYS

YOU GIVE US LIFE IN ABUNDANCE,

AND YOUR PROMISE IS

YOUR PRESENCE IN YOUR PIECE.

I REFUSED TO LET FEAR

GET A GRIP ON ME.

I KNOW YOU CAN HELP US.

YOU ARE THE ONLY

TRUE GOD - THE MAKER

OF HEAVEN AND EARTH

IN ALL THERE IS.

NO THING ON EARTH

IS A CHALLENGE FOR YOU -

NOT EVEN THOSE

TRAGIC CIRCUMSTANCES.

YOU HAVE PROMISED STRENGTH,

YOUR HELP,

EVEN IN SOME CASES

REDEMPTION OF ALL I'VE LOST,

AND A FINAL,

SATISFYING RESOLUTION

TO MY PAIN WHEN I COME HOME TO YOU.

I TAKE JOY IN KNOWING

THAT WHILE I DON'T

FEEL SO STRONG RIGHT NOW,

YOU ARE BEING STRONG

FOR MY FAMILY AND ME.

FATHER,

THANK YOU FOR LOVING US SO MUCH.

MY TRUST IS IN YOU.

AMEN