July OH MY!

Well, July has arrived and what a month it has been in just these few short days. Many of us have lived in fear for the past week over a serial killer in the Gaffney area. It has all been a little overwhelming for this tiny little community and everywhere you go everyone is talking about the same thing. My heart breaks for the family of those that fell victim to this horrible man, it seems he had no real motive in mind and was very random when choosing his victims which range from 15- 81. It is so sad to know that the lives of so many innocent people were taken. What makes me ache the most for these families is that the last victim was the 15 year old daughter, sister and friend of so many people. She had not even began to live her life yet and was so innocent. I just cant comprehend how anyone can take the live of such a young child, such a sweet elderly woman and such dearly loved people of this community. Jeremiah 9:11 says that God has a plan for us all and I hope that the families of these innocent people can find peace in knowing that God has a plan and they will all meet again one day where there is no pain, hurt or meanness. As the news conference that was held last night to let us know the serial killer had been caught, shot and killed was wrapping up last night, I couldn't help but wonder how the many people affected by this whole thing were handling the news of him being killed the same way their family members were. Most people have said today that they slept better last night than they have all week, me, I slept worse last night than I have since this whole thing began. I have thought about that innocent child and her father that were gunned down in their family store. What must have been going through her fathers mind. How for once in his life there was nothing he could do to protect his baby. What the daughter of the elderly lady that lost her life at the same time as her mother must have done to try to convince him not to take their lives. What the wife of the well known farmer thinks every time she sees the sketch of the killer who took her husband from her. These are all things that we could all be faced with, we should never say never. We don't know when our God will call us home. Any of us could have been any of these people.

There is also another item this week that has laid very heavy on my heart. The killer of the trooper who lost his life last year during a traffic stop in canton is set to go to trial and his lawyers are asking for his case to be tried in a different jurisdiction so that he may have a fair trial!??!?! The trooper was not given a fair trial , he was not given the choice to live or die. Not to mention he had a newborn baby that was born early and was in the same hospital his father was brought to after being shot the baby lost his battle as well a few weeks later. Not only has this young widow had to deal with loosing her husband and son but now she is dealing with her husbands killer getting a "fair" trial. I think our nation needs serious prayer right now. I think we all need to come together and continue to pray for these families and our nation we definitely need it now. I know that my GOD is bigger than all of this. I know that he has a plan for me, and I know I will see all of those who have gone before me one day. My simple hope tonight is that all who may stumble upon this know all of the same things I do! Hold your loved ones a little closer tonight and take that extra minute before closing your eyes to say I love you!