Monday, April 20, 2009

My School and its Tragedies...

Yes...we've had another one and it is a heartbreaker. Most of you that read my blog, know that I work in an inner city school. They call it a suburb...but Honey...it ain't! It is over 80% economically disadvantaged and literally one block away from the area that Houston fondly calls "Gunspoint" (Greenspoint).

We have had a teacher commit suicide. We have had a teacher drop dead of a heart attack right in front of the students. We have had a teacher lose a baby when they were less than 2 weeks from the due date. These are the major hits that come to mind, but believe me, the list could go on and on and on. Most students have family members in jail. They understand what drugs and sex and neglect and abuse are. But this weekend was a real kick in the gut.

This weekend a man under the influence of something was driving in the rain. He was on the phone and had his adult brother and 6 children in the CAR with him. They, of course, didn't have their seat belts on. He lost control of the car, flipped and went into a bayou. The man made it out of the car. His adult brother made it out of the car. Thank GOD that the 10 year old girl made it out of the car. The 11 year old boy...my student...didn't get out of the car. The 7 year old, another one of my students, didn't make it out of the car. A 4 year old did not get out. Another 4 year old and almost 2 year old were missing. They finally found the baby...dead. The 4 year old is still missing after 2 days of searching.

How could someone do this? So many questions come to mind. The guy had a rap sheet...and is of right now, not only facing 4 counts of manslaughter, but was already going to be on trial for selling and MAKING drugs. Another question...why did he get out of that car without 1 FREAKIN child in his arms? Why did he not die trying to save his babies? Why did someone let this man near their babies? And why did he feel the need to be responsible for them? What were 8 people doing in a car...and why didn't they have seat belts?

Again...the list goes on and on. The children are, of course, heart broken. Please pray for them. Pray that they see that their is life beyond what they see in front of them. Pray that they see purpose in their lives. Pray that they know they are loved by a mighty God. Pray that the teachers have the words to say, the hearts to love the tough ones and the strength to keep on keepin' on.

Pray that this man finds God. That is about the only well wish I can give him. His show of selfish Godlessness is exactly what I hate about the world we live in. I have so much anger and hate right now for him and can't imagine what the family members, especially the mother, feel for him right now.

Pray for the family. May they know forgiveness, peace and love.

2 comments:

Colby said...

Thank you for sharing. So sad - I will for sure be praying. For the one child that survived, that must be very difficult.

Grace Family said...

Thanks for sharing. My best friend's husband is a cop that worked this scene on Sunday and she was at our house when he called to tell her about it. Very tragic and sad all around. That one surviving child will for sure be in my prayers.