Lives Matter!


It’s extremely disturbing how normalized hearing about a shooting has become. It’s become an everyday occurrence that passes through our minds without a second thought. When I realized this, I felt distressed how little emotion I had felt when these pieces of news were announced. It was as if I had become numb to it.

I can’t comprehend the grief the families experience at the loss of a child, spouse, or parent. And it’s worse than losing a family member by natural causes. Innocent people murdered for no reason at all.

For example, 28-year-old Atatiana Jefferson was shot by a police officer in Fort Worth recently. It had occurred when a concerned neighbor called the police because a window was open. It scares me as something as ordinary as that could result in the slaughter of an innocent person’s life. Jefferson had been playing a video game with her 8-year-old nephew when she was shot! Imagine the trauma the child must have experienced when he watched his aunt die. 🙁 How would you feel? Put yourself in their shoes. I would personally feel terrified, hateful, and very, very sorrowful.

It’s sad how a casual moment suddenly before you can do anything, becomes a moment of horror and death.

Now I don’t live in the same threatened safety as many Americans (in Malaysia guns are banned) but I can imagine living in a country where you hear about this thing every week is disheartening. Discrimination is real. False Judgement is real. It’s been like this since the beginning of time. The Israelites and the Gentiles.

However… there’s an important verse that I would like you to ponder…

“They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy.”

Romans 1:29-31

‘What stuck out to me and troubled me about this verse was that gossips and disobeyers of their parents were in the same line as murderers and deceitful people. We have ALL sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. None of us can rightfully say that we’ve not sinned at any time in our life. Even the perfect angels among us. Now don’t go away! I’m not saying that because you lie or disobey your parents, you’re a murderer. I’m trying to give you perspective. ALL sin is SIN. And sin is evil. The way gossiping and murdering are measured is by how many people are affected by it. Though manslaughter is detestable and horrific, it’s not unforgivable in God’s eyes. We shouldn’t be so quick to hate. Though it may be extremely hard, try to look on those people how Jesus looks. I can’t imagine how hard this would be for the family members to do this.

I respect the people who’ve gone through all of this, yet still chooses to LOVE how Jesus loved. Enduring the mockers, the schemers, the sinners and loving on them still.

Here’s a thought-provoking video of an African American boy who chose to love the woman who shot his brother and forgive her.

This is love. This is the kind of love Jesus showed to the mockers and the men lusting for His blood. While He was dying on the cross he cried, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

It’s a fallen world we live in, desperately in need of our savior. Let’s imitate Christ and show love the way he did. That boy showed that it was possible.

So why do people abuse life as if it had no worth? Why do we continue to judge a book by its cover? Why do we listen to the news of another shooting as if it was an everyday occurrence? When it’s not.

Black lives matter.

White lives matter.

Hispanic lives matter.

Every other nationality and color’s lives matter.

Children’s lives matter.

LIVES MATTER!

And the only way we can see this. . . is through the lenses of love.

Let us not take life for granted. Let us learn to value and treasure life how God does. Let us learn to feel, really feel for the people who’s families have been shattered by manslaughter.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

1 Corinthians 13:7

Let us learn to love the way Jesus loves. <3

Thanks for reading! I would love to hear your insight, comments, or questions. Share your stories!


0 responses to “Lives Matter!”

  1. Abbi, thanks for another beautifully-crafted essay–on a very important topic. The video-testimony is powerful. May God continue to fill your heart with the sensitivity & love of Jesus–as you reflect over life. Don & Sally

  2. Hi Abbi, close to home I’m trying to figure out how to love the neighbor and her dog that attacked my sister and broke her arm in three places last Friday? Some say put the dog down. Others say the neighbor will be in trouble especially if the dog attacks a small child next time. Do we just love the neighbor and hope she does the right thing?
    I really like your joy keeper blog. You have good insight on hot button issues like guns and marginalized people. I think you have hit on the best solution to use love in all situations.
    Blessings,
    Grandpa Rink

  3. Very beautifully written Abbi, It seems to me that Jesus came to show the way to live here on earth as well as to gain entrance to heaven through salvation. If history is any indication, as you pointed out. the world will never change so we need Jesus everyday. Aunt Judy

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