What Can You Think & Do In the Aftermath of Uvalde, Texas?

Our nation was met with such horrific and terrifying news on May 24, 2022. The death of 19 children, 2 adults, and a live shooter in a senseless massacre at Rob Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. 

As I woke up the morning after this tragic event, energy drained  from my spirit as I again realized what had happened. 

What is today, I thought? Yes, it’s Wednesday. 

Oh yes, I’ll see Ella today for her swim team practice. 

My sweet granddaughter Ella - elementary school age. What if this tragic incident took place closer to home and more directly impacted my family?

My heart sank and my breathing grew shallow.

Where do you put such news? How do you even get your mind around this in an attempt to understand? 

The Choose 2 Think Inspirational Podcast episode that was supposed to air tomorrow just didn’t seem to fit at a time like this. It’s a super jazzed and motivational message about resisting the world’s message that we women have to do it all, that we must hustle and grind to get 'er done, that we should meet everyone’s needs like a so-called Boss Mom. In the show,  I turn this notion on its head, but to air this tomorrow, just felt off.

I needed a different slant. 

I decided to press the pause button and to reflect and mourn with my nation and those families that are standing before a wall they think they may never climb. No doubt those parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles are still spellbound, in shock of what has just happened to their precious little one. 

Yet there was also a pull to just move on, to keep pushing forward, to “ignore” what was happening around me, to stay positive, to keep in my lane, to just put out lighthearted content because we need a diversion.  I mean life goes on, right?!

I’ve been grappling lately with my own civic duty with this podcasting and YouTube video platform. I’ve tended to shy away from controversial topics, hammering down instead on personal responsibility of your own Christian improvement and development. ​

y show and ministry  came about from my own experience with depression.

The message that you can achieve a joyful and purposeful life and that it starts with your thoughts is the overarching theme of the show. This premise worked and continues to work in my life - by God’s good graces, His presence, His strength, and His spirit - and I know it can work in yours.

I’ve dedicated years to research and trying to figure out the exact METHOD or PROCESS that I used to overcome depression, worry, angst and general overwhelmed-ness - and over time I put this into words and actionable steps that I share with you!

Matter of fact, I wrote a devotional called Choose 2 Think: Find Peace, Joy, Hope, Health & Freedom Every Day! with the free, downloadable companion tool called the 7 R’s to Living Your Best Thought Life. 

My ministry niche is Christian women like you about my age who are kinda tired of being told how to feel and behave. We don’t want to be emotionally driven anymore. 

• You are tired of the imposed worldly standards about your body and your duties. 
• You are taking back your feelings and emotions. 
• You are standing up as mothers and grandmothers to continue to shout from the rafters that there is hope, freedom and peace to your children and theirs. 
• You continue to shine the light of truth upon every scenario. 
• You hold on to God and HIs truth with all that is in you. 
• Your faith is proven stronger through your words and deeds. 
• You don’t let go of God. 
• You are brave, strong, and able to do immeasurable things by the grace of God. 
• You endure. 
• You stop comparing yourself to others.
• You believe what God says about you and your identity is rooted in him.
• You believe what God says about Himself and there you grow stronger and find comfort.
• You believe what God says about your life situations and there you find hope. 
• You persevere. 
• You forgive. 
• You love.
• You pray. 

You are willing to work to become emotionally healthy and you are willing to learn and grow in order to fully live the life God created for you to live. You have special and unique gifts and talents that the world needs on display that ALL reflect God and glorify Him.

My show is about all of these things–I try to find folks to interview who will encourage you in your Christian journey. I chat with women who demystify the so-called Sally Super Christian - perfect-in-all-ways myth of a woman who does not exist. ​​

Taking thoughts captive is critical in your Christian journey. Being transformed by the renewing of your mind is equally important.

Even in this unconscionable situation in Uvalde, Texas, can you pull back, take a moment to reflect, and then act? 

Can you resist being steered by the way you feel?

• You may feel that all is lost.
• You are afraid that our country is going to hell in a handbasket.
• You think there is no hope.
• You question the benevolence of our God.
• You rage for more gun control.
• You stand dazed and confused and filled with angst and grief, unable to wrap your head around these senseless mass shootings–and you have to blame someone! 
• You blame the government, the left and the right.
• You fault law enforcement.
• You point the finger at the church.
• You feel helpless to make changes because there is so little you can actually control.
• You stay stuck in the cycle of Why? Why? Why?

So this begs the question - what can you do personally right now in light of this American Tragedy?       ​

I heard the Governor of Texas Greg Abbot recently say something like right this moment his head and heart and body were  in Uvalde.  Let’s use this as a way to remember how we might also respond:

HEAD:  Can you rise up to continue the dialogue about solutions for these types of incidents? What can you learn? What can you do in the realm of Mental Health to have earlier detection, prevention, and progression of mental illness? What can you THINK regarding this situation? Can you remind yourself of God’s goodness despite all externals? Can you dig deep to ask Him to lead you to that ground of peace that surpasses all understanding?  Can you use your mind or thoughts to influence your brain, to resist apathetic thinking that causes you to "ignore" these devastating social issues?

So won’t you join me in mind - Let’s dig deep into the Word of God for comfort, hope, and strength. Let’s think thoughts that line up with what God says about this situation. Let’s pause to mourn and grieve this American tragedy. Let’s be solutions minded. 


HEART:  Personally, you can pray and examine your own heart. You can choose to extend forgiveness to the family of this shooter, who have lost two family members.  They may be filled with shame. Perhaps they will feel ostracized and isolated in the aftermath. Can you make sure that you show gratitude and appreciation for those loved ones who are close to you right now? Can you hug on your kids a little longer tonight? Can you commit to loving the Lord with all your heart? To seeking Him daily? Reading His Word? Allowing His Spirit to guide you during national crises?

Join me in heart: Let’s pray for these families. Let’s love our neighbors and our own family members now, right now, being ever mindful of how fleeting life can be. We all need an anchor of hope and support during the storm. Let’s forgive others as we have been forgiven, all the while knowing that without a Savior, we would all be sunk.


BODY: Governor Abbot stood with the people in Uvalde literally or physically. He made his presence known. Though you may live far away, are there things you can do to offer some sort of consolation to the victims? I read in a recent Time Magazine article 2 suggestions on how you can take action: Consider donating blood in your community and send relief money to organizations raising funds for the victims and to go directly to the victims' families such as VictimsFirst (endorsed in the article). 

Join me by giving blood locally or sending money to relief efforts for the victim’s family.
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Let's stand up by God's strength as the 21st-century Christian women God designed us to be. For such a time as this, let's make our voice heard, and let's take action.                          ​

In your grief, do you know with your head and your heart
​the man of great sorrows,
the God whose son also innocently died a cruel death?
Are your eyes fixed on Jesus who bore the hideous weight
of all measures of your evil and your despair
yet rose again triumphant
over the death that couldn’t hold him down?