I’d like to take a different opinion/angle on these mass shootings. When you take away the arguments of politics, guns, mental illness, etc, I’d like to consider the absolute dysfunction and destruction of families over the past few decades.
Let’s consider it in general, as I am not casting blame.
Whether it’s a matter of dysfunctional, broken families, or parents who are simply not intentional with time, love, and attention – a product is emerging that has no purpose and no hope and no value – or so these children/young adults are led to believe.
The Texas shooter posted on his LinkedIn that he is just getting by. That he guesses he’ll do software development because it seems to suit him best. I hope I’m wrong, but to me he appeared to be your stereotypical “no ambition, sit on the couch and play video games all day” type of guy.
I may be stepping on some toes, but that’s a parenting problem.
It’s a parenting problem to not teach your kid ambition. It’s a parenting problem to not teach your kid hard work. It’s a parenting problem to allow your kid to sit on screens all day.
But that’s the issue. It’s hard work to parent and be intentional with parenting.
At the end of the day, do I know all the details? No.
At the end of the day, do I know his home life was the issue? No.
At the end of the day, was he at fault? Yes.
At the end of the day, are we, as parents, responsible to teach and train and love? Yes.
I don’t post this to flippantly add to the outcry and pointing of fingers, but rather to say that the foundation of America is the family. And the devil knows it’s where the attacks are the most affective.
So where do we go from here? We all look inside and say, “What can I do to build up and strengthen my family – our foundation?”
Before you respond, know this. Please. I’m not saying because you are divorced, this happens. I’m not saying your child cannot be raised well and then turn from the truth. I’m not saying that video games are the reason. Or guns. Or donkeys. Or elephants.
Just consider this angle: Without a reason to live, without hope, and without purpose, you are capable of destruction.
Please consider your time. Do you come home from work and selfishly do what you want to do and let your kid sit there, alone, with headphones on their ears, mindlessly playing games for hours on end because no one makes them feel important, or loved, or inspired to do anything?
They’re skilled. They’re important. They’re valuable. But do they know that? Have you told them?
I can promise you this. God forbid that’s ever my son on the Walmart security cameras, but if it were, I would look back and take a lot of responsibility.
So the next time you hear people say to hug your kids and love on them because they could be the next victim, think about hugging them, loving them, and being intentional with them as parents, because they could be the next killer.
That’s hard to read isn’t it? It’s hard for me to think about that.
I close with this.
Maybe you were burned by church. Perhaps you were hurt by religion. Don’t let that keep you from teaching your kids about God. About a personal relationship, not a religion, with Jesus Christ.
NO Jesus, NO hope; KNOW Jesus, KNOW hope. ❤️
HOUSE OF PRAIN 