Chapel Thanksgivings: You Are There

by Danyale Tamminga

I am thankful for the community of faith we are a part of: Wiser Lake Chapel. But then, beyond that, the wider breadth of Christian churches in our county, state, nation, globe. We are part of a large family. And then to think of the church past, present and future. We are part of a large family, behind and before us. It’s part of the reason why when something like the tragedy that happened last Sunday to Christians in Sutherland Springs, Texas, our hearts break with them. They are our family, our brothers and sisters in Christ.

 

Prayer for the Broken Hearted
Written Nov. 7, 2017

Dear Father,

A terrible thing happened two days ago.
26 people were shot and killed in your house.

You were there.

I read 20 more were wounded,
some still fighting for their lives.
One is a little boy, Ryland,
Five years old,
Shot five times.

You are there.

What to say to a church, a community, a nation
experiencing the heartache of such grief?
the shock of murder?
the pain of sudden loss?

You are there.

No easy answers for the broken hearted.
Only shared tears,
Letting our hearts break too.

You are there.

Lord, have mercy, have mercy.
Make them to know,
Help them to know,
That beyond all doubt

You are there.