Heartbroken and Confused...BUT Don't Give Up Hope

This past Friday, September 28th, 2012, two different “Ride for Missing Children” events took place, one in CNY and another in Albany.

The Ride for Missing Children is an emotional, powerful, and uplifting day fueled by the love, compassion, and inspiration from hundreds of people pedaling one-hundred miles to “Keep our children safer, one child at a time.”

In years past, the CNY ride has raised funds to provide education throughout the year as a proactive way to keep our children safer. The Utica/Mohawk Valley ride has raised funds to raise “posters” to help find our missing children. My sister, Heidi M. Allen is one of those missing children. 

I find myself thanking God for the open hearts full of compassion that make the Ride for Missing Children possible. Some ride their bicycles, some volunteer, some report the news, some receive the riders and volunteers for visits, some take photos, and many pray. We try to attend the rides as often as possible and my prayer is to attend each one, at least once.

The day is an emotional and exciting roller coaster. The days that follow leave me drained yet inspired. If hundreds of people who participate in one form or another strictly because they care so much for children and the families of those searching for a loved one then how could I spend days moping in my own loss and missing my sister more than normal? I guess it is because I am human.

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Some of you may have seen the recent news about a beautiful young girl, eighteen-year-old SUNY Brockport student, Alexandra Kogut. My heart is heavy for this young girl’s family and friends, for her roomies, and those she knew at both college and back in her home town of New Hartford. New Hartford, a beautiful place that hosts so many Ride for Missing Children events with “community” as a way of life, not a word.

Will you join me to pray for the family, friends, and community grieving the loss of their precious and young Alexandra? Today’s blog is dedicated to our children. Some are taken from us years before we think they should yet there is something VERY important to remember, especially in light of the tragic way this young woman lost her life. God doesn’t take our children. He loves them and He is the greatest healer of all.

It is easy to get angry or give up on the positives in life BUT you can’t. Instead, get motivated and rally with other like-minded individuals to make a difference. The Ride for Missing Children and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children are of course two of my favorites but depending on your life’s tragedy and loss ~ how can you channel the negative, hurt, and grief into something good and positive?

Do you know God loves you?

As you pray for this grieving community and family, will you also pray for God to show you how you can make a positive and uplifting difference in your part of the world? Do you trust God enough to give Him all your hurt, confusion, and questions?

When we listen…God is talking. 
Who are you listening too? 
What is God asking you to do today?

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Special thanks to Marc Ritter and Anna Egresits for sharing their photographs from this past Friday's ride in CNY.