I was out of the country when the shootings in Colorado took place but I tried to follow the news as best I could. My heart aches for those who lost their loved ones that terrible night. The coming days, weeks, months, years will have an overlay of grief as the families try to adjust to the new empty place in their hearts. I pray for them as well as those who were wounded. I cannot imagine the horror of such a thing: to go out for an evening anticipated as fun only to have it turn so hideous. The memories that  haunt…the “what ifs…” Life can change so fast. And it is a long road back from the depths of the pain and loss.

That’s uppermost in my heart but we have to stop and ask questions of our culture, society, oursleves.

If we continue to wean our children on violence in videos, movies, music…how can we expect anything less than violence to erupt? I was shocked, maybe I shouldn’t have been – that such young children were in the theatre that late at night to view such a film. Why weren’t they safely tucked in bed? Why would a parent want to expose their little children to such a film? Although I have not seen this particular film I have seen similar films of this genre. They are fast-paced, loud and action packed – they maybe fun for older teens and adults but hardly the kind of film children ought to be exposed to late at night – or any other time. Young minds need to be protected and developed – nurtured – with carefulness.

Where has “wholesome” gone? Is it out of style? When did that happen? I say let’s bring it back.

Let’s bring back the family dinner, conversation (not Tweets), book reading and family devotions. Naive? I don’t think so. I think we are just too caught up in our own needs and desires to push through the reisitence of,  “Oh mom/dad, not that.”, to make it happen. Are we too busy to raise “intentional” kids? Are we letting society dictate to us what is best for our kids? Do we let society push our convictions aside, make us feel out of touch, not “with it”?  Are we letting our children rear themselves?

The stakes are high folks. Our children and grandchildren are at risk. Are we going to abdicate our God-given roles? We are to set the example, instill values, discipline, respect and a sense of purpose for each child. Maybe we have lost that ourselves…It’s not too late.