I can not imagine going to Disney World and having my child eaten by an alligator. Pray for that family and the emergency personnel and all involved. (then again I can’t imagine going to Disney World but a lot of people do go.)
Ironically, the Disney brand has probably played a major role in our present-day attitudes toward wild animals and how we can all learn to love and live together. The pendulum seems to swing from one extreme (mowing everything down) to the other (no-kill, ever, for any reason).
I agree with the horror but what on earth was Disney thinking having four alligators in a lake that people swim in? Or did I miss something? Maybe they didn’t know. The poor family.
Prayers for so many in Orlando grieving such horrors this week. No parent should have to bury a child, no matter how old that child is.
As many of you know, I have my collection of gay friends and relatives. Almost all of them are men. Talking to them this week has been heart breaking. They are feeling very threatened and afraid. This isn’t the kind of “threatened” that is oh poor me, I am so discriminated against. This is genuine fear of people gathered in a public place.
It has made me realize that even though I have been in situations where I felt afraid I put myself in that situation. I have never felt threatened in the general sense that I am a heterosexual white woman from Alabama. My heart breaks for my friend G in California and my other friend G who lives in Orlando. My step brother moved home from South Florida a couple of years ago.
I am glad to see that many people are reaching out with love and compassion. I upset California G earlier today when I say that above all it was an attack against citizens of the United States and we ought to all be upset about it. To him it is more of a gay threat. We finally agreed that we have loved each other since 6th grade and got over it.
THEN for the family to lose their child to an alligator in a Disney park. I made a comment to Mr. P about it earlier. He has spent a lot of time with family in South Florida and he said you really can’t control where the alligators go, so you have to be aware and not take any risks. Once again, I cannot wrap my brain around what that family must be feeling.
Compassion. That is what we should show, do, feel. My heart hurts today.
This was on FB, posted by Sarah Rockwell and explains the alligator story in a way that makes sense.
First, my thoughts and prayers go out to this little boy’s family. I am utterly heartbroken for them. Now, I have something VERY important to say to those of you who want to place blame – on Walt Disney World Resorts or the parents.
Walt Disney World is not at fault here. This is Florida where alligators find their way into any body of water larger than a bathtub. Disney removes alligators that have become nuisances and approached humans, but it is impossible for them to keep the Seven Seas Lagoon free of alligators.
The parents are NOT at fault. This is NOT a case of neglect. The parents set up a playpen for their children on the sandy beach.
Their 4 yr old stayed in the playpen, the 2 yr old escaped because sometimes 2 yr olds are incredibly resourceful and persistent and mischievous. The father noticed and headed to the edge of the water to retrieve the little boy, but the alligator got there first.
The father was so close he was able to jump in and try to wrestle his little boy away from the alligator. He was joined in the water moments later by the mother. They were unsuccessful.
Now their baby boy is gone. Imagine being those parents. Imagine their grief, their pain, their guilt.
They are probably wishing they’d stayed in their room instead of coming outside to watch fireworks, wishing they’d just stayed home in Nebraska, wishing they’d noticed 10 seconds sooner that their 2 yr old was out of the playpen, wishing, that they could turn back time and have their baby boy safely in their arms.
This was an accident, a horrible and tragic accident. When these kinds of accidents happen in places we associate with great joy and a sense of safety – places like zoos and Disney World – we feel scared, sad, unsettled, and out of control.
These feelings make us uncomfortable. It’s so much more comfortable to get angry and place blame because then we feel like we’re doing something. But sometimes there’s nothing to be done and nobody to blame or get angry at. Sometimes life is just sad and scary and unfair and out of our control.
Sometimes all we can do is feel that sadness and grief and have some empathy for the people directly impacted, understanding that they feel it so much more..
Glad to hear that Michelle. I was thinking of all the times I left my known area and wandered through other places, oblivious to the dangers. Only God knows the number of our days but nobody wants such a thing for this family.
Thank you for sharing that Michelle. Last summer a family were all taking time out of the sun. The children were down for naps and the parents dozed off. When one of them awoke they noticed their son had gotten out of the condo. He was autistic and there was a huge search for him, but sadly he had drowned. It was nothing the parents did wrong. They were all worn out from being at the beach.
The tragedies have been so many lately. A lot of people are grieving over their losses on different levels. Please, I pray first for comfort for those who have lost their loved ones to physical death that was so unexpected and unprepared for. Some may have had unresolved issues with their loved ones and feel guilt piled on top of their sadness for last words spoken in anger. There are those who will grieve from a sense that they may not see their loved one in heaven and they just wanted another chance to share the gospel. Please ease any consciences that are disturbed from such thoughts. May the hurting find this is the time to lay it all at the foot of the cross and be reconciled to Your peace and grace freely given through Jesus. Some may have already been depressed before the tragedy happened. Please do not let them be overcome by their grief. I ask Your strength and might to please lift them from depths of darkness unknown before. Only You are powerful enough to shield from the waves of pain inflicted by both evil and the natural bent of wild animals. I pray for those who are hording their feelings of being threatened and feeling singled out for future hurts. May they understand that they are human first and all are threatened by evil acts that are perpetrated by those without conscience or compassion. We all feel less safe and hurt perhaps in much lesser degrees, but still, everyone’s sense of freedom has been damaged forever from both of these separate happenings. Lord, I pray Your supernatural armies of protection are keeping diligent watch over those who are in harm’s way. I know You want all people saved so You are for life that allows time for people to know and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Your way is for us to love with Your type of love all, even those whom we disagree with over lifestyle choices, so that we never dishonor You by disrespecting people You made in Your image. I trust in You to help people through this no matter what their standing is in regards to their faith. Thank You that You want to know what troubles us both individually and as people groups. Thank You for all who are involved in caring for the wounded and hurt, and for the first responders who had such terrible things to sort through. I pray for the enemies who do such horrible things because of wrong thinking about life. I pray for Your peace to be known in all hearts. In Jesus’ name, Amen
The will spend the rest of their lives saying, “if only……”. My mother did that when my brother was killed. “If only he had waited” “If only…..”
But it wasn’t anyone’s fault..
Weeping at the horror of so many of these news stories lately. I can’t imagine…
I could use prayers that I bite my tongue about an issue between a friend and me. I have a strong temptation to do otherwise, and don’t believe that inclination is from the Lord.
To everything there is a season… a time to keep silence, and a time to speak…”
I’m pretty sure the time is for silence, but I am feeling weak in my struggle to refrain.
Mumsee, that’s one thing about traveling. I know people who are super afraid of snakes. Well, I grew up in rattlesnake territory and I’ve seen many of them, and snakes don’t scare me at all. But alligators don’t interest me, they just seem spooky. Water snakes do, too.
But then, I didn’t grow up around tornadoes, and they don’t scare me either, and it has always seemed it was because I didn’t grow up fearing them. So I guess, if you grew up around them but without learning fear, you’re OK, and if you don’t encounter them and thus don’t feel fear, you’re OK?
Wandering Views 
I can not imagine going to Disney World and having my child eaten by an alligator. Pray for that family and the emergency personnel and all involved. (then again I can’t imagine going to Disney World but a lot of people do go.)
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I thought of your wild animal comment yesterday when I read that this morning, mumsee – !
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Ironically, the Disney brand has probably played a major role in our present-day attitudes toward wild animals and how we can all learn to love and live together. The pendulum seems to swing from one extreme (mowing everything down) to the other (no-kill, ever, for any reason).
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I agree with the horror but what on earth was Disney thinking having four alligators in a lake that people swim in? Or did I miss something? Maybe they didn’t know. The poor family.
Prayers for so many in Orlando grieving such horrors this week. No parent should have to bury a child, no matter how old that child is.
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It was well signed, no swimming. They apparently thought wading was okay.
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Everybody thinks everything is safe in Disneyworld.
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As many of you know, I have my collection of gay friends and relatives. Almost all of them are men. Talking to them this week has been heart breaking. They are feeling very threatened and afraid. This isn’t the kind of “threatened” that is oh poor me, I am so discriminated against. This is genuine fear of people gathered in a public place.
It has made me realize that even though I have been in situations where I felt afraid I put myself in that situation. I have never felt threatened in the general sense that I am a heterosexual white woman from Alabama. My heart breaks for my friend G in California and my other friend G who lives in Orlando. My step brother moved home from South Florida a couple of years ago.
I am glad to see that many people are reaching out with love and compassion. I upset California G earlier today when I say that above all it was an attack against citizens of the United States and we ought to all be upset about it. To him it is more of a gay threat. We finally agreed that we have loved each other since 6th grade and got over it.
THEN for the family to lose their child to an alligator in a Disney park. I made a comment to Mr. P about it earlier. He has spent a lot of time with family in South Florida and he said you really can’t control where the alligators go, so you have to be aware and not take any risks. Once again, I cannot wrap my brain around what that family must be feeling.
Compassion. That is what we should show, do, feel. My heart hurts today.
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This was on FB, posted by Sarah Rockwell and explains the alligator story in a way that makes sense.
First, my thoughts and prayers go out to this little boy’s family. I am utterly heartbroken for them. Now, I have something VERY important to say to those of you who want to place blame – on Walt Disney World Resorts or the parents.
Walt Disney World is not at fault here. This is Florida where alligators find their way into any body of water larger than a bathtub. Disney removes alligators that have become nuisances and approached humans, but it is impossible for them to keep the Seven Seas Lagoon free of alligators.
The parents are NOT at fault. This is NOT a case of neglect. The parents set up a playpen for their children on the sandy beach.
Their 4 yr old stayed in the playpen, the 2 yr old escaped because sometimes 2 yr olds are incredibly resourceful and persistent and mischievous. The father noticed and headed to the edge of the water to retrieve the little boy, but the alligator got there first.
The father was so close he was able to jump in and try to wrestle his little boy away from the alligator. He was joined in the water moments later by the mother. They were unsuccessful.
Now their baby boy is gone. Imagine being those parents. Imagine their grief, their pain, their guilt.
They are probably wishing they’d stayed in their room instead of coming outside to watch fireworks, wishing they’d just stayed home in Nebraska, wishing they’d noticed 10 seconds sooner that their 2 yr old was out of the playpen, wishing, that they could turn back time and have their baby boy safely in their arms.
This was an accident, a horrible and tragic accident. When these kinds of accidents happen in places we associate with great joy and a sense of safety – places like zoos and Disney World – we feel scared, sad, unsettled, and out of control.
These feelings make us uncomfortable. It’s so much more comfortable to get angry and place blame because then we feel like we’re doing something. But sometimes there’s nothing to be done and nobody to blame or get angry at. Sometimes life is just sad and scary and unfair and out of our control.
Sometimes all we can do is feel that sadness and grief and have some empathy for the people directly impacted, understanding that they feel it so much more..
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Glad to hear that Michelle. I was thinking of all the times I left my known area and wandered through other places, oblivious to the dangers. Only God knows the number of our days but nobody wants such a thing for this family.
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Thank you for sharing that Michelle. Last summer a family were all taking time out of the sun. The children were down for naps and the parents dozed off. When one of them awoke they noticed their son had gotten out of the condo. He was autistic and there was a huge search for him, but sadly he had drowned. It was nothing the parents did wrong. They were all worn out from being at the beach.
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Heavenly Father,
The tragedies have been so many lately. A lot of people are grieving over their losses on different levels. Please, I pray first for comfort for those who have lost their loved ones to physical death that was so unexpected and unprepared for. Some may have had unresolved issues with their loved ones and feel guilt piled on top of their sadness for last words spoken in anger. There are those who will grieve from a sense that they may not see their loved one in heaven and they just wanted another chance to share the gospel. Please ease any consciences that are disturbed from such thoughts. May the hurting find this is the time to lay it all at the foot of the cross and be reconciled to Your peace and grace freely given through Jesus. Some may have already been depressed before the tragedy happened. Please do not let them be overcome by their grief. I ask Your strength and might to please lift them from depths of darkness unknown before. Only You are powerful enough to shield from the waves of pain inflicted by both evil and the natural bent of wild animals. I pray for those who are hording their feelings of being threatened and feeling singled out for future hurts. May they understand that they are human first and all are threatened by evil acts that are perpetrated by those without conscience or compassion. We all feel less safe and hurt perhaps in much lesser degrees, but still, everyone’s sense of freedom has been damaged forever from both of these separate happenings. Lord, I pray Your supernatural armies of protection are keeping diligent watch over those who are in harm’s way. I know You want all people saved so You are for life that allows time for people to know and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Your way is for us to love with Your type of love all, even those whom we disagree with over lifestyle choices, so that we never dishonor You by disrespecting people You made in Your image. I trust in You to help people through this no matter what their standing is in regards to their faith. Thank You that You want to know what troubles us both individually and as people groups. Thank You for all who are involved in caring for the wounded and hurt, and for the first responders who had such terrible things to sort through. I pray for the enemies who do such horrible things because of wrong thinking about life. I pray for Your peace to be known in all hearts. In Jesus’ name, Amen
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The will spend the rest of their lives saying, “if only……”. My mother did that when my brother was killed. “If only he had waited” “If only…..”
But it wasn’t anyone’s fault..
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Weeping at the horror of so many of these news stories lately. I can’t imagine…
I could use prayers that I bite my tongue about an issue between a friend and me. I have a strong temptation to do otherwise, and don’t believe that inclination is from the Lord.
To everything there is a season… a time to keep silence, and a time to speak…”
I’m pretty sure the time is for silence, but I am feeling weak in my struggle to refrain.
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Forgot to close the italics. Last paragraph shouldn’t have them.
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Weep with those who weep — and I found this clip (3 mins) that a church friend posted today to be a good reminder. Hard days.
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Mumsee, that’s one thing about traveling. I know people who are super afraid of snakes. Well, I grew up in rattlesnake territory and I’ve seen many of them, and snakes don’t scare me at all. But alligators don’t interest me, they just seem spooky. Water snakes do, too.
But then, I didn’t grow up around tornadoes, and they don’t scare me either, and it has always seemed it was because I didn’t grow up fearing them. So I guess, if you grew up around them but without learning fear, you’re OK, and if you don’t encounter them and thus don’t feel fear, you’re OK?
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