Hope still for today?

I am a grandmother--there were other parents and grandmothers and grandfathers involved in the horrible killing on this December day who now only have memories for this Christmas instead of special small ones to hold close and dear.  Mine aren't close but at least I know others who will be able to hold them close. Those powerful guns didn't kill those dear children and wonderful staff; the blackened heart (by what we do not know) led to inanimate objects being used for bad by a very living human being.  Does that make all guns bad? Does that make all human beings bad?  No it does not.  But the only thing that can make a bad heart right and PROBABLY not resort to senseless works of darkness is through the Spirit of God who can dwell in our hearts to take away the 'night' and turn it into day...I read a saying online a few moments ago--Christ was born in the night--his parents met him in the dark; they dwelt amongst hard dark times as well (the ruler was seeking to kill all babies and children 2 and under).  Christ was born to change dark into light.  As we pray for these hurting families and for hurting hearts of those that now might live in fear--let us remember the ruler of light is Jesus Christ and through Him is all darkness taken away.  Be a shining light this Christmas if you know Christ; and if you don't--you can KNOW Him. 

1Timothy 1:15  This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 

I trust the parents and grandparents of the families involved will be comforted and helped during their dark days. 

Respect for the Aged

Schools in Japan are beginning to introduce classes to help children deepen their understanding of elderly nursing care-related issues, such as Arthritis and Alzheimer's. Such classes take place at primary-, middle- and high schools across the nation. Children gather in the gym to get hands-on lessons to understand the physical and mental disabilities that afflict the elderly.

With one of their legs wrapped in a cardboard tube, children try to walk, which brings out complaints such as, ‘It is so hard to walk’ or ‘I'm going to fall!’ The cardboard tubes are meant to help the children experience leg disabilities similar to the elderly who suffer joint pains.

To demonstrate hand disabilities, the children try to scoop up ‘go’ stones with a spoon and remove change from a wallet while wearing stockings over their hands.

“I now get how hard it is for elderly people. When I see elderly people who need help, I'll try to give them a hand,” says Ayano Yokoi, one of the students.

School textbooks explain how dementia develops and how to communicate with a person suffering from it, as well as providing basic knowledge about its symptoms.

“Learning about dementia also gives children, who are sensitive, an opportunity to think about the dignity of life,” says Hiroko Sugawara, secretary of General Education.

Source: Yomiuri News 2010-08-10

Please show honor and respect especially to the elderly!

Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;  The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity. I Timothy 5:1,2

Respect our elders, learn from our elders--they have much to share! Are we willing to listen and learn? Do we teach our children to do the same?