4.2-Heavenly Wisdom

4.2-


I don't like dwelling on bad news. I want to turn it to good news as soon as possible.

Two doors down the street from my home in Aurora Colorado lived a family forever effected by the Aurora Theater shooting. Their son died there. The sister of one of our families from church survived, but were in the Theater. My mind is on them today. I arrived at the school gym where families from Columbine were learning whether their children had survived or not. There was tension there that could be cut with a knife. These people and their families are on my mind this morning.

It is common today for communication to happen through social media quicker than any other method. I learn of many of the most heart breaking things in my own family and friendship circle through social media before I get a phone call. Why? Because it is an effective way to communicate quickly about what is important.

I say this because I want to say to my online friends something I hope you will internalize and think about deeply. The brokenness and dividedness of our country right now is an added depression burden for those who carry some depression. We have had three suicides in the country in the last week that are related to school shootings. Parkland has had two and Newtown one. Three more lives lost connected to these shootings.

Let me remind all of us. Check on your friends. Check in with your kids and grandkids. Check with close friends. Do not be afraid to ask them deep personal questions about how they are doing. Let them know that you are available to help them and to get more help from the community.

This week I will be involved with about 30 or 40 people related mostly to my church and community work. I will watch for opportunities to encourage them as well as my own family. My siblings and their families will be on my mind regarding how they are doing regarding their own mental health. I will not take it for granted. I will check in with them and do what I can to point them toward help.

For those of you who read my posts. Many are devotional. Some are my own family history. Today it is about mental health and checking in with those around you. Let life and love flow out and heal us all with God’s help.

Thanks for reading this and sharing it if appropriate.
Larry Wishard
3.26.18

James 3.
¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. ¹⁵ Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
¹⁷ But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. ¹⁸ Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.