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Thoughts and Prayers



The day after another tragic shooting in a school in Texas, I decided to take a break from Instagram. 

Why didn’t I rush to make it known where I stood? Why didn’t I exude all the anger I could muster into one tiny square? 

Why didn’t I stay in the “fight” arguing with people on either side of the aisle about gun control and the 2nd amendment? 

Why didn’t I post memes or retweets of other peoples rage multiple times a day to show my solidarity?

Why didn’t I demand change and lament, again, that thoughts and prayers just won’t cut it?

But what if they will?

What if thoughts and prayers were more than words? What if those two things, alone actually were action?

How many people can scream while thinking clearly? Come up with an answer amid noise and hate?

To have thoughts, we need stillness. Quiet. To sit in the uncomfortable. To reflect. 

“Be still” shows up multiple times in scripture. 

Could this be counsel for now?

If there was a time for “thoughts” or to be still, is this it?

Amid the rage and finger pointing and hate for someone who has a different opinion from us, in our stillness, our thoughts, could there be an answer to this problem our country is facing? 

Could reflecting bring us closer to a solution?

Could reflecting lead us to “prayers”?

Prayers do not go unheard. God in heaven hears our cries. Our pleas do not fall on deaf ears. 

In our reflecting and prayers do we pray for an increase of faith? Brotherly kindness? 

Do we pray for patience? Humility and to rid ourselves of pride? The ability to bite our tongue?

Do we pray to know what changes we can make in our own home? How to love our people better? 

Do we pray and ask God what we, one person, can do to change the climate of a world where a person would buy a gun, with the intent of taking innocent lives? 

As I have taken the time to be still in the last couple of weeks, I have spent a lot of time with my thoughts. And a lot of time praying. 

I don’t have solutions for politicians about policy changes. I don’t have answers for school boards, principals or teachers. I don’t even have any snarky memes or retweets to share. 

But I do have the peace I need to be a better mom. To love my husband, my kiddos and my neighbors better. I have felt less anger (even the righteous kind) and less hate. 

On May 5th, just three weeks before the shooting in Texas, Russell M. Nelson, president of the Church or Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints made his own post about “thoughts and prayers.”

“I have a firm belief that praying for those in need is pleasing to God; in fact, he commands us to turn to Him and pray for others! However it is my personal experience that when I ask God in prayer for direction on what I can do to help minister, lift, love and support those in need, He answers these prayers with specific and simple things I can actually do to bless one of His children. 

I invite you to consider how your thoughts and prayers can be a catalyst for God to inspire and direct you towards acts of kindness, compassion and generosity. Imagine how much good you could do in the world - and in your family, school and workplace. As we seek to be His healing hands, we surly will exalt the Lord.”

Maybe we could consider what thoughts and prayers might be able to do for our homes, communities and this nation we all love. 




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