Prayer Request

[Szdfan]

I received an email early this morning from my superintendent announcing a 7:00 a.m. all-district meeting. We lost a student.

I have a classroom full of grieving and shocked students, and I'm not sure how I'm going to make it through today. This is the first student I taught that I've lost.

Prayers please.

[QuietlyListening]

Will be praying. So difficult for all involved. Praying for you as you go thru today and many days ahead and as you help your students.

[the-real-steve]

Praying.

Our school children lost a classmate about a month ago to a freak train accident.

[GaryK]

I'm sorry to hear this and will pray for you and your students as I think about it.

[mike]

Prayers.

[Szdfan]

Well, I made it through my last class today. This wasn’t one of my more brilliant days of teaching—but it was a day where I tried to offer space and gentleness. Tomorrow, we’ll begin working our way back toward normal, but today was a day to grieve.

The student we lost was a sophomore in the high school. I was his freshman English teacher last year. While the middle school wasn’t affected quite as directly, in a small community like ours, many of my students knew him well. The grief reaches us, too.

I told my students that I’m not okay—and that our community isn’t okay—but that we will be. Right now, there’s a deep wound in our school. We are all bleeding. But over time, we will begin to heal.

Lately, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about grief in my own writing and reflection. Today was a reminder that grief is holy, and grieving is a holy space—even if middle school students don’t fully understand that yet.

I don’t believe this death was part of God’s plan. I don’t believe this is how the universe is supposed to operate. But I do believe that Jesus is present with us in our grief. And I believe that Jesus understands.

[Valerie]

Well, I made it through my last class today. This wasn’t one of my more brilliant days of teaching—but it was a day where I tried to offer space and gentleness. Tomorrow, we’ll begin working our way back toward normal, but today was a day to grieve.

The student we lost was a sophomore in the high school. I was his freshman English teacher last year. While the middle school wasn’t affected quite as directly, in a small community like ours, many of my students knew him well. The grief reaches us, too.

I told my students that I’m not okay—and that our community isn’t okay—but that we will be. Right now, there’s a deep wound in our school. We are all bleeding. But over time, we will begin to heal.

Lately, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about grief in my own writing and reflection. Today was a reminder that grief is holy, and grieving is a holy space—even if middle school students don’t fully understand that yet.

I don’t believe this death was part of God’s plan. I don’t believe this is how the universe is supposed to operate. But I do believe that Jesus is present with us in our grief. And I believe that Jesus understands.

I’m sorry I missed this, very heartbreaking as apparently an unexpected death and throws all into shock, pain, and searching for answers. In our faith we understand spiritual realm, we understand attacks from the enemy, we understand God is Sovereign over all and He allows things that are difficult to accept. May the Lord strengthen you and may they see your faith and be drawn to it. Without strong faith I do not know how people get through these things that are painful, even with faith. Pray the Holy Spirit guides you if you are questioned. Life is so hard for youth.

[Grace]

Well, I made it through my last class today. This wasn’t one of my more brilliant days of teaching—but it was a day where I tried to offer space and gentleness. Tomorrow, we’ll begin working our way back toward normal, but today was a day to grieve.

The student we lost was a sophomore in the high school. I was his freshman English teacher last year. While the middle school wasn’t affected quite as directly, in a small community like ours, many of my students knew him well. The grief reaches us, too.

I told my students that I’m not okay—and that our community isn’t okay—but that we will be. Right now, there’s a deep wound in our school. We are all bleeding. But over time, we will begin to heal.

Lately, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about grief in my own writing and reflection. Today was a reminder that grief is holy, and grieving is a holy space—even if middle school students don’t fully understand that yet.

I don’t believe this death was part of God’s plan. I don’t believe this is how the universe is supposed to operate. But I do believe that Jesus is present with us in our grief. And I believe that Jesus understands.

I am sorry for the loss you and all your students are feeling and going through. Sadly, we live in a fallen world, and we wish these things would not happen. But we have a hope in Jesus and He will make a way for us.

[Szdfan]

Thanks for the responses and prayers.

I woke up this morning and cried. I took today off. I suspect a lot of people did.

There are details and rumors emerging. I don’t know the complete story, but my gut says it’s rather horrific.

Today is when the shock begins to wear off. We were told yesterday to make today as normal as possible. I understand the wisdom in that but also am not sure how I feel about that.

I feel exhausted and empty. I’ve slept some but I think my exhaustion is more than physical. I’m sad and angry and all of those things.

I will be ok. I feel beyond terrible for the student’s family.

[Grace]

Thanks for the responses and prayers.

I woke up this morning and cried. I took today off. I suspect a lot of people did.

There are details and rumors emerging. I don’t know the complete story, but my gut says it’s rather horrific.

Today is when the shock begins to wear off. We were told yesterday to make today as normal as possible. I understand the wisdom in that but also am not sure how I feel about that.

I feel exhausted and empty. I’ve slept some but I think my exhaustion is more than physical. I’m sad and angry and all of those things.

I will be ok. I feel beyond terrible for the student’s family.

I am sorry, and I hope things get better. It is a reminder to me, to pray for the family of the young person who died. We have walked with some very good friends who lost a son and the road of grief, when losing a child is an extremely hard one.