The Peaceful Mom

By 51 Comments

I Am Orlando

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Since I first began blogging in 2009 I have kept my location under wraps for the protection of my children, but after the events of this past week I am coming out of the shadows and declaring that Orlando is my city.

 

Friends of mine know Christina Grimmie’s family and spoke with Christina at what would be her last concert ever.

My husband and children have co-workers whose friends were killed in the nightclub shooting.

My children have had to drive around the crime scene on their way to work.

My family has walked along the same lake shore where that poor child was taken by an alligator.

 

I am a mother, a neighbor, a friend, a citizen.

I am Orlando.

 

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And you are Orlando too.

We were all wounded by these insane attacks and as devastating, crushing and heartbreaking as these events are, I am even more disturbed by what I see happening in the aftermath.

While many in my own circles are expressing love, kindness and support, I am deeply grieved that these tragic events are being used as tinder to enflame roaring fires of rage across our country. News stories and social media are filled with angry voices on every side, each screaming louder to try and be heard over the chaos.

Rather than grieving with the victims, their family and friends, I see people using the dead bodies as a platform to spout their opinions. Where is the human decency of feeling badly for these people? Where is the compassion?

We have real enemies both foreign and domestic, spiritual and human, who seek to divide us, to wreck us, to destroy us. They want us to turn on each other because they know that our true power is in unity, in moving forward together whether we agree with our neighbor or not.

I personally have very strong beliefs and opinions about the issues facing our nation, but I don’t care where you stand ideologically, theologically, politically or otherwise. While you have a right to hold your opinion and to share it with others, that opinion matters far less than how you treat the people around you.

This is a tumultuous time for us but I know that we can make it if we work together, if we talk together instead of yelling and demanding to be heard, if we stop pointing our fingers at others and treating them as the enemy.

WE are Orlando.

And we will emerge from these tragedies better and stronger, but only if we focus on that one tiny word and all that it encompasses: “WE”.

 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Donna says

    Well stated. Thank you for sharing your heart and thoughts. Thinking of you and your family, the victims and their families, and your community.

    Reply

  2. Debbie says

    I have cried so many tears this week. I live in Jacksonville and feel close enough to Orlando to call you a neighbor. As a fellow Floridian, I have found myself trying to defend Orlando-why must people focus on the negative instead of grieving and trying to help in any way possible? Kimberlee, thank you for being brave enough to post this and trying to focus everyone to seeing the people involved as children of God and therefore, our brothers and sisters. We ALL are Orlando and stand together.

    Reply

    • Kimberlee Stokes says

      We are neighbors Debbie! I am happy that I could encourage you with the post and maybe it will make a difference to someone. 🙂

      Reply

  5. Katherine E Harms says

    What a wonderful expression of faith and compassion. You are right. We are all Orlando right now.

    If someone came to the door bleeding and battered, the right thing to do would be to take this person in and bandage the wounds. It would be cruel and worthless to drag him around the neighborhood shouting about war and peace and crime and morals. You would be kind and help this person recover. No matter how elevated your agenda for world peace and personal purity, you would not make this sick person the center of a shouting match.

    That is what too many people do with tragedy. Thank you for responding with grace, compassion and wisdom.

    Reply

    • Kimberlee Stokes says

      Oh how I love this analogy Katherine! If only everyone could see it this way.

      Thanks for taking the time to share this with us.

      Reply

  6. Korinna says

    I was Orlando, now I am Polk City. Very well spoken! It is tragedies like these that should unite us not divide us! I taught my children to love the person and hate the deed. I taught them the golden rule and no matter what we know love is stronger than hate!!!!

    Reply

    • Kimberlee Stokes says

      Nice to meet another Floridian Korinna! You are so right, love is stronger than hate. Thanks for taking the time to comment. 🙂

      Reply

  7. Mrs. Price says

    I just want to send you and your family a friends a huge hug from California. I cannot imagine what your city has been going through. We are standing with you.

    Reply

  10. Jen says

    Thank you for speaking the truth in love! We need to rally around those who have suffered such devastating loss whether in prayer and words of sympathy or with tangible resources.
    I agree with you 100%!
    Blessings to you and your family.

    Reply

  11. Adriana Duff says

    Please continue to be the glass-half-full-girl who inspires us to be our best every day. God bless all of your friends and neighbors. We are Orlando.

    Reply

    • Kimberlee Stokes says

      Ha! I love it! Yes, I will be the glass-half-full-girl. I may even have a name tag printed. 🙂

      Thanks Adriana!

      Reply

  13. Linda says

    Wow! Very well said. Everyone in this country needs to read this. Powerful. Thank you for this very moving message.
    Linda

    Reply

  15. Diana Fuller says

    Dear Kimberly,
    What a beautiful post, I couldn’t have said it better myself. I agree, these events that happened earlier this week, shook me to the core. I felt devastated and heartbroken for all those involved in their tragic losses. I’m so sick of all the hate that’s happening lately, I’m just craving for more hope, love, and compassion. Surely, we all can muster up just a little bit more compassion towards someone today and help ease their pain and help lighten their load. Wouldn’t that be a nice change for once? (Sigh) :/

    Reply

  16. Julie says

    This was so heartfelt and touching to read. We are from Kalamazoo, Michigan and have had some devastating events recently that made national headlines. Thank you so much for the reminder that the word united in United States needs to be what we all focus on as we watch so many suffer and grieve❤️

    Reply

    • Kimberlee Stokes says

      Hi Julie – I am so sorry to hear that you have been touched by tragedy recently too. I pray for comfort and encouragement for you as you cope with these events.

      Thanks for taking the time to comment.

      Reply

  18. Rona says

    I live in Orlando too and it really makes me question humanity when people are using this horrible week for their own agendas. How about a minute or two to think of the great loss many have endured? I know its not everyone but I just wish people would take a minute and think about the people.

    Good Post..

    Reply

      • Rona says

        I’ve been reading your blog for a long time your 28,000 post I have shard a lot. haha 🙂 No idea you were so close. I want to buy a house but had no idea if I could afford it, so I was really inspired by how you did it.

        Thanks for sharing. 🙂

        Reply

  20. Rhonda says

    I am not in Orlando but I agree with you that unity is going to be our strength to defeat the people that wish us harm.

    Reply

  23. Rebeca says

    I appreciate your transparency. This article was heart moving. We continue to pray for one another and this nation. God be with us. ❤

    Reply

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