A rural school. An overcast day. Mrs. Welch arrived early to work driving, her husband’s truck. There has been a lot of rain lately, she almost didn’t get here this morning. Her clay road washed out.
Mrs. Welch parked and stared at the brick building in the distance where she’s been teaching for 14 years. She tried to imagine what teachers in Uvalde, Texas, must have been feeling when their sanctuary was invaded by a lone gunman yesterday. A gunman who killed 19 students and two teachers.
She trotted across the parking lot toward the school, carrying a bulky cardboard box beneath her arm.
Her principal unlocked the door and buzzed her in.
“You found them?” the principal said.
“Yes,” said Mrs. Welch. “I found them.”
Last night at 9:30 p.m., Mrs. Welch had an idea for her school. So she got in her car and drove to her church while still in her PJs. She has a key to her church. Women like Mrs. Welch always have the key to the church.
She dug through the church shed for a box of candles her church used for the Christmas Eve service last year. The candles have flimsy paper guards. The church has septillions of them.
When she walked into the school gym, the school staff had already gathered and was waiting. There was a somber mood hanging over them like a damp towel. These are people who have dedicated their lives to education. Yesterday, in Uvalde County, the sanctity of that hallowed calling was attacked.
The students started arriving. Kids were guided into the gymnasium and asked to remain silent out of respect for the 21 victims of Robb Elementary School. As children filled the bleachers, they were given candles.
Thus it was, that 232 students, first-, second-, third- and fourth-graders, entered the gymnasium and kept surprisingly quiet. These are 232 kids who are never quiet. Not even in their sleep.
“It just shows you what an impact this tragedy has had,” said Mrs. Welch.
The sounds of rustling feet died down when Mrs. Welch took the stage. The same stage where the school holds its spelling bee.
“Can I have everyone’s attention?” said Mrs. Welch, speaking into the microphone.
Everyone got quiet. The staff members lined the cinderblock walls.
“Raise your hands,” Mrs. Welch began, “if you know what happened yesterday in Texas.”
Two hundred and thirty-two hands raised.
“Raise your hands if you would like to pray for the families of the people who died in the shooting.”
Two hundred and thirty-two hands raised.
Soon, representatives from each class were selected by their respective teachers to pray publicly. After several spokeskids from each class were chosen, Mrs. Welch gathered the children onstage.
The lights went off.
Candles were lit. Each candle represented the prayer of a child. Children took turns at the microphone. Here is what they said:
“God,” said a first grader. “Please, um, help all the kids who saw the bad things happen, but they didn’t die, and now they’re really scared.”
“I pray,” said a girl whose copper hair was in braids, “that you please make all the moms and dads to be comforted… Well… I mean… Just help them.”
A boy in a Nike shirt took the mic. “God, make everyone just quit hurting each other, and be, like, friends with each other… Please don’t let people kill, just make us all stop the fighting and killing.”
The school’s SRO officer, a former military man, pinched his nose and began to cry.
A blond girl who was missing her two front teeth said, “Can you make everyone love each other, God, ‘specially the kids?”
A girl with midnight skin spoke. “Thank you for the teachers who died yesterday, who loved their kids so much, God. Thank you for our teachers, God.”
After all prayers finished, Mrs. Welch was about to end the communal prayer when a first-grader asked if he could speak. She almost told him to go sit back down. But she couldn’t. The boy wore thick glasses and his little shirt was tucked into his blue jeans. He held the mic with both hands.
“Jesus, please forgive the man who shot everyone.”
And 232 of God’s children said amen.
111 comments
NancyB. - May 26, 2022 6:34 am
Sean–Didn’t think you’d top yesterday’s column, but you did. If only adults could see through the eyes of children and live in such a way as to honor them. God bless Uvalde, Texas!
Lynn B. - May 26, 2022 6:38 am
The deep wisdom of precious babes.
Mary B. Farmer - May 26, 2022 7:09 am
Beautiful and so sad kids had to go through something like this. May God Bless this little town in Texas and all those loved ones grieving for their families, spouses or children, especially.
May God Bless America 🇺🇸.
Naomi Smith - May 26, 2022 7:18 am
Oh for the perception of a little child.
Becky Thomas - May 26, 2022 7:57 am
A little child shall lead them. O, if only. I can’t see the letters for the tears. God help us.
Audra S Isenhour - May 26, 2022 11:33 am
That was my first thought as tears came to my eyes as well. Amen
Gillian Hicks - May 26, 2022 9:03 am
Amen
Jocelyn - May 26, 2022 9:20 am
Kids are amazing. Little sponges absorbing the world. We need to ensure they absorb faith and love.
Lavenda Young - May 26, 2022 9:28 am
And all of God’s people say a tear filled heart ratcheting Amen
Tuesday’s Tragedy in Uvalde, Texas - Red State Ramblings - May 26, 2022 10:00 am
[…] Join me in praying for the victim’s families and the entire community of Uvalde, Texas. I highly recommend you read this sweet story about how one school responded with a box of tissue nearby: https://seandietrich.com/texas-2/ […]
Marcia - May 26, 2022 10:04 am
Thank you.
Te - May 26, 2022 10:07 am
Words fail. We, the People cry out against this obscenity, but children have it right. Forgiveness — and love one another. The future can change in a split second.
Joy Jacobs - May 26, 2022 10:13 am
It really makes me sad/mad that kids have to deal with this. What kind of world are we giving them where a person would commit mass murder? I really feel for the world my granddaughter has to live in.
Connie - May 26, 2022 10:17 am
Heavy heart.
Jimmy Stewart - May 26, 2022 10:19 am
Can’t seem to stop my eyes from leaking…Some of the most powerful testimonies of love come from children and their ability to cut to the heart of any situation and forgive like only God can forgive. When Jesus said you must become like a child to enter heaven I have always thought he meant we must have child like faith. This first grader has helped me see a bigger picture that includes forgiveness! Jesus also said forgive and you will be forgiven. Thank you Sean, again and again.
kenneth michael somerset - May 26, 2022 12:28 pm
amen
Ed - May 26, 2022 10:25 am
I’ve got peace like a river. Thanks for the picture Sean.
Debbie - May 26, 2022 10:35 am
Children speaking honest simple words from their innocent hearts. I pray God answers every one of their prayers.
Barb - May 26, 2022 10:43 am
Bless you
joan moore - May 26, 2022 10:50 am
God bless us all. Thank you for sharing this with us.
Charles Vianey - May 26, 2022 11:07 am
Lord, heal us.
Don Basnight - May 26, 2022 11:22 am
Thoughts and prayers, thoughts and prayers
Adrian Dyess - May 26, 2022 11:24 am
Wow on all of it but the last kid really wow. That gave me chills
Howard Humphreys - May 26, 2022 11:26 am
Wonderful story. We live in Austin and it really hits us hard….We have to find a way to stop this madness…
Pam Rohrer - May 26, 2022 11:35 am
Thank you
Carla Walrath - May 26, 2022 11:37 am
“And a little child shall lead them…..”.
Marnie - May 26, 2022 11:38 am
Perfect! Thank you.
Jenn - May 26, 2022 11:40 am
And the children shall lead them.
tears.
Barbara harms - May 26, 2022 11:48 am
If Jesus can forgive the killer, that’s fine; right now I just can’t. Thank you for what You.
Anne - May 26, 2022 11:50 am
No words, just tears.
Robyn - May 26, 2022 11:56 am
Thank you Sean..we needed this today. I ❤️ You!
ALISON W BREWER - May 26, 2022 11:58 am
And the children shall lead us
Jennifer - May 26, 2022 12:04 pm
Amen.
Thank you, Sean, for printing things that try to heal. I’m so grateful.
Charles Schraub - May 26, 2022 12:05 pm
To forgive those who harm us is the true test of a Christian. I live in Texas. It’s tough here these days. Thank you.
Dorothy Robinson - May 26, 2022 12:07 pm
From their pure hearts to Gods’ ears.
Sally Herring - May 26, 2022 12:10 pm
God bless the little children 👧
Connections – The Write Side of My Brain - May 26, 2022 12:19 pm
[…] Texas Sean of the South Mrs. Welch parked and stared at the brick building in the distance where she’s been teaching for 14 years. She tried to imagine what teachers in Uvalde, Texas, must have been feeling when their sanctuary was invaded by a lone gunman yesterday. A gunman who killed 19 students and two teachers. Read More. […]
Bkr - May 26, 2022 12:19 pm
Wow. Gut punchingly good
Linda Lewis - May 26, 2022 12:21 pm
This is a powerful message. It touched my heart. Thank you for the way you presented it.
Susie - May 26, 2022 12:24 pm
It’s all so sad. We are losing our kids, ourselves, each other, our country to hate through hate speech in the media. People…..BE THE ADULTS in the room…..PLEASE BE AWARE of the things you are reading, listening to, watching on media…….you BECOME what you watch, read, hear….. if it’s often enough. Don’t fall for the hatefulness being spread. We need to meet in the middle. ENOUGH of this extreme crap. The only fear I feel right now …..is that we are not coming back from this!!!!!
kenneth michael somerset - May 26, 2022 12:27 pm
Bless the children for reminding us adults’ to forgive and care for those effected. Bless all the teachers and school workers for the work they do every day, to the parents and care givers of children who worry for their Childs safety. Bless you Sean for writing this.
Dean - May 26, 2022 12:27 pm
Thank you for your articles. This one brought the tears to this old man. But as grandpa once told me “be scared of a man who can’t cry”.
Chasity Davis Ritter - May 26, 2022 12:33 pm
This one got me hard. You know Jesus said that if we don’t become like the little children we shall never enter the kingdom of Heaven. We can learn so much from kids if only we would stop screwing them up before they’ve had a chance 😢
Debra Beverly - May 26, 2022 12:34 pm
This touched my heart and healed it a little. Thank you fir sharing it
Lucretia Jones - May 26, 2022 12:36 pm
Amen.
susieklein - May 26, 2022 12:39 pm
Amen
Sean of the South: Texas | The Trussville Tribune - May 26, 2022 12:44 pm
[…] By Sean Dietrich, Sean of the South […]
Brenda - May 26, 2022 12:46 pm
Tears
Denise Walker - May 26, 2022 12:50 pm
Nothing is as pure as a child’s prayer. Praise God.
Bill Heaton - May 26, 2022 12:57 pm
I keep doing the same thing that SRO officer was doing…
Thank you Sean. Thank you Mrs. Welch. Thank you to all of the teachers who made a difference in my life. Thank you to those who are making a difference in lives today. Thank you to those children, who have it right – unlike most of us adults. Dear God, please help us to be more like them!
Cathy. M - May 26, 2022 12:58 pm
Out of the mouths of babes❤️ May God hear our prayers
Anne Arthur - May 26, 2022 1:29 pm
With your colorful words you painted the most loving memorial service ever. Amen to all their prayers.
Wesley Nichols - May 26, 2022 1:00 pm
I’m thinking that the last little fellow gets tucked into bed most nights by his mom or dad.. I’m guessing they sit on the edge of his bed sometimes and pray before he goes to sleep… I bet his Mom makes pancakes on Sunday morning sometimes before they go to church as a family. Thank-you little fellow…. your wise beyond your years.
Shelton A. - May 26, 2022 1:04 pm
Forgiveness is a virtue. I am a bit shocked, but very pleasantly so, that a child would ask that the gunman be forgiven. After all, he, along with his teacher are the potential targets. God does indeed work in mysterious and wonderful ways. Father God, be with the families of those who lost their lives in Uvalde and give healing to the wounded. We humbly ask for a country where children do feel safe in their schools. Bring us peace and love for one another. Let the hatred and violence cease and light a fire under the 50 senators who refuse to take up the House bill that requires universal background checks to help keep some of these crazy people from getting a gun (especially an assault rifle). Thank you, Lord. Amen
Susie - May 26, 2022 11:52 pm
Shelton, the gun lobbies are keeping these senators in office. The senators don’t care about you OR me OR your kids, just their hefty pensions.
Rhea Wynn - May 26, 2022 1:09 pm
Oh, to have the tender heart of a child!!!
lindadmiresean - May 26, 2022 1:11 pm
Wow, Sean. Just, Wow!
You are amazing. An amazing mouthpiece for God. Thank you for sharing His thoughts with us.
maxnayagus - May 26, 2022 1:12 pm
Amen
Irene - May 26, 2022 1:13 pm
Amen.
Elizabeth - May 26, 2022 1:35 pm
Out of the mouths of babes
Ed Hudson - May 26, 2022 1:35 pm
Amen.
Heidi - May 26, 2022 1:38 pm
Childrens prayers are so pure. Straight to God, I believe. My heart tells me pray & trust. My mind, right now, is angry and questioning.
DiAn - May 26, 2022 1:47 pm
… And All of God’s children said, “A-Men”.
Nancy - May 26, 2022 1:56 pm
Amen.
GARY - May 26, 2022 2:00 pm
WOW !
Karen - May 26, 2022 2:07 pm
Precious children.
jblackburn34 - May 26, 2022 2:15 pm
Children are the hands and feet of Jesus.
Ruth Mitchell - May 26, 2022 2:20 pm
Amen!
Susie - May 26, 2022 2:34 pm
To all you who say you believe and trust in god….I hope that is not all you’re doing. You’ve heard the saying, god helps those who help themselves?? Step up and do the right things; do some good to make this a better world. You can TRUST in god all you want, but row TOWARD shore. JUST trusting can inspire laziness. Walk the talk. Act. Do some GOOD for all our sales. Be kind. Hate and inaction toward good will be our downfall.
william r miller - May 26, 2022 2:51 pm
Why not protect our children with prayer in school? God is the greatest protective power ever!
A missionary was asked, where do all your guards live? He responded, I don’t have any guards! The jungle man answered, i was here the other night to kill you and your house was surrounded by many men with swords!
Patricia Gibson - May 26, 2022 2:53 pm
God bless them! A lesson for all. I sure shed a few tears🙏🙏❤️
Mary Beth Hedstrom - May 26, 2022 3:02 pm
WOW! Thank you. Thank you so much.
Noah Funderburg - May 26, 2022 3:13 pm
Just wow. We have a lot to learn from these very loving and wise children.
Greg - May 26, 2022 3:29 pm
This is so disappointing , Sean. 24 hours later and you’ve already capitulated by giving your readers a sweet story about children praying to make us all feel better . So now what? Do we just move on and wait for the next attack and countless others to follow?
Thoughts and prayers alone do not work. Action is demanded.Strong federal gun control is the only way this madness can be reduced.
Our country is the ONLY place in the world where this happens because gun lobbyists buy politicians to insure that human slaughtering machines ( assault rifles) are legally supplied to anyone of age.
Fellow readers , please continue to pray if that is your belief , but also take physical ACTION and do your part to vote the Republican US Senators out of office !
John in Texas - May 26, 2022 4:02 pm
As the president said “the second amendment is not absolute”. So does that mean the first amendment is not absolute as well? What of the other amendments? Are they not absolute either? Chip away at our freedoms and sooner or later we will have none!
Kathryn - May 26, 2022 6:26 pm
You’re from Texas?
Roxanne - May 26, 2022 5:58 pm
This is very much what Beto O’Rourke did at the meeting on the day of the shootings. He demanded a lot of things. Also, have your forgotten that these shootings happen whether Republicans or Democrats run the Senate? This is not “just” a sweet story about children praying. Who do you think will be the ones to exact parts of this monumental change in our nation that needs to happen? I sure hope it’s some of these children. And the adults who guide them. This is not a political problem. This is not a gun problem. This is a home, society, heart, mental health problem. The quickest way to fix it is in these same schools where these children pray. Our focus needs to shift from politics and to problems and how they can be righted. The people to ask about those are the people who are with the children, but no one seems to want to ask the educators. I should know as I’ve been one for the past 30 years.
Susie - May 26, 2022 11:23 pm
Greg, I agree with you. Children praying in a classroom?? Oh, yeah. That’ll take care of that gunman.. GIVE ME A BREAK. TAKE ACTION and vote these people who obviously have NO SOULS out of office. They’ve done NOTHING to stop the killing of these children. What’s it gonna take? Photos of these broken, shot yep little bodies in front of every congressman?? Maybe one of their own becoming a tiny victim. ACT, PEOPLE,!!!
Rhoda Jantz - May 26, 2022 3:33 pm
Sean,This was written So Beautifully 💕A child shall lead them and this truly spoke to me and made me realize the Best thing to do ,Forgive!! May God Wrap All these Dear People in His Arms and carry them through this Very Difficult time🙏💔😥
Mary Douglas - May 26, 2022 3:39 pm
Thank You! Always uplifting!
Carmen Manning Robinson - May 26, 2022 4:01 pm
Powerful!! Thank you, Sean.
Jan - May 26, 2022 4:11 pm
Amen!
LIN ARNOLD - May 26, 2022 4:14 pm
For so many of us, we just don’t think about the kids outside of the immediate area of this disaster. My daughter is a K-1 Special Ed teacher here in Georgia. I know she and her fellow teachers felt like they had been kicked in the stomach. Many tears were shed. But how many of us think about all the kids that are now afraid to go to school? God, please comfort them all.
Sandra Lee Van Dam - May 26, 2022 5:25 pm
Sean, please tell them “Thank you, Mrs. Welch and all the students at your school.” From this grandma in Colorado.
Annie - May 26, 2022 5:28 pm
Such a heart wrenching piece. This shooting and all others have nothing to do with guns, gun laws, politicians, etc. It is a direct lack of responsibility on the parts of people. Since when did it become OK to blame others for what one person did. We need to teach our young to accept responsibility, think before he doing because somethings you can never undo. We need to treat the mentally ill.
Roxanne - May 26, 2022 5:51 pm
I have been a teacher since 1991. I am still a teacher and have been for the past 30 years except for the 5 years I stayed home with my own babies. I know what is wrong. I even know a lot of what is needed to help fix what is wrong. But I am just a teacher. No one asks me. I don’t have the power or the ability to change this alone. Nor do my colleagues across our nation. I just know that schools are where the change CAN happen. The change begins with me, but I need help. Thank you for sharing the prayers of these sweet, precious souls, because the first and most help we need is from the one to whom they prayed and in whose house 2 teachers and 19 children are now having class.
Linda Moon - May 26, 2022 6:11 pm
I’d like to raise my hands with the students and their teachers. I will just after I post my comment here. Then I will pray privately. The challenge will be “Forgive us our debts as we forgive others”. I’m not sure I could do that, but Jesus can. My students often taught me and Mrs. Welch’s kids did, too.
Kathryn - May 26, 2022 6:24 pm
Oh my! My eyes just sprung a leak!
Janice - Shilverhill - May 26, 2022 6:26 pm
God help Uvalde and God help us all.
Susan - May 26, 2022 6:29 pm
Oh my goodness, I have no words. 💕
Susie Flick - May 26, 2022 6:51 pm
Amen
Becky Souders - May 26, 2022 7:07 pm
Moving piece, Sean. I’m sharing your good words. Thank you.
Linda T - May 26, 2022 7:07 pm
it’s difficult to find words when we have our innocent children and protective teachers killed like this. You handle each scenario that comes along so eloquently. I pray God will bless you and continue to give you words to comfort each person touched by the horrific acts yesterday. Specifically the families, friends, teachers, and the entire community affected by this taking of so many lives at one time for no reason. God, be with the family of the young man who committed these acts and bring them peace. One last thing, please help us to more kind and non-judgmental of everyone we meed.
suzi - May 26, 2022 9:18 pm
God Bless you little fella, my heart is not even headed in that direction
Alice Grimes - May 26, 2022 9:25 pm
Amen! God help these little ones stay strong in their faith and the knowledge that forgiveness is available mrep
Dot Coltrane - May 26, 2022 10:01 pm
This one made me cry. Not ugly cry. Tears for these sweet children and their precious words. Thank you, Sean.
MDHall - May 26, 2022 10:05 pm
God Bless the children!
MAM - May 26, 2022 11:03 pm
That was a tearjerker! And God bless that first-grader and the parents who raised him well!
trudyboyce - May 26, 2022 11:42 pm
What school was this? I’d like to send a gift to Mrs.Welch.
Connie - May 27, 2022 1:07 am
Dang. I’ve cried buckets for those babies and you just brought on more. God help the victims families and the rest of us too. 💔
Bonnie V. - May 27, 2022 2:36 am
Roxanne, thank you for your comment. You are correct. Teachers do know what is happening with our children. Children are being misdirected in regards to moral issues as early as kindergarten. We as educators can no longer even address our classrooms with the phrase “boys and girls”. Anyone with an agenda, especially in this day and age, will try to get into the minds and hearts of pure innocent children. If they can propagate their ideologies at very early stages, it is so much easier to gain a stronghold. If a teacher has a heart for the Lord, they have God directed wisdom to see where the answers to these moral issues really lie. I am amazed this teacher was allowed to ask if the children wanted to pray and the school allowed it. And whoever stated that prayer is not the answer to the gun problem, shame on you. God IS the answer, and it all begins with prayer. Wisdom comes from above.
Susie - May 27, 2022 2:33 pm
Bonnie, if you insist God gave us a brain, we must use it.
Bonnie V - May 28, 2022 1:52 am
Yes Susie, He sure did. I’m not saying we should not have better gun laws. I’m saying prayer is power….. however you direct it.
Cathie Fowler - May 27, 2022 10:41 am
This is such a difficult time. Thank you for your insightful writings. They make me cry, but I’m sure they make you cry too. We should all cry after what’s happened! God bless you.
Candace Toews - May 27, 2022 2:57 pm
Will You Go In Your Pajamas?
Is the church key in your pocket?
Have you access to the Lord?
Are you ready night or noontime
To address the needs abroad?
Will you go and find the candles
Hidden from the public eye,
Light them all and hand them quickly
To each stumbling passerby?
Are you ready now to listen,
Let the children show the way
To the very heart of Jesus
Where forgiveness lies today?
Flickering light of many candles
Ever draws our souls above,
While the warmth of prayers ascending
Fills each heart with Heaven’s love.
Will you go in your pajamas?
Take the key into your hand.
Find the candles; light each taper.
Pray for God to heal this land.
…inspired by Sean of the South’s post on the Uvalde school shooting. C.T.
Candace Toews - May 27, 2022 2:55 pm
Will You Go In Your Pajamas?
Is the church key in your pocket?
Have you access to the Lord?
Are you ready night or noontime
To address the needs abroad?
Will you go and find the candles
Hidden from the public eye,
Light them all and hand them quickly
To each stumbling passerby?
Are you ready now to listen,
Let the children show the way
To the very heart of Jesus
Where forgiveness lies today?
Flickering light of many candles
Ever draws our souls above,
While the warmth of prayers ascending
Fills each heart with Heaven’s love.
Will you go in your pajamas?
Take the key into your hand.
Find the candles; light each taper.
Pray for God to heal this land.
…inspired by Sean of the South’s post on the Uvalde school shooting. C.T.
James a Root - May 27, 2022 4:50 pm
God, Please give me the strength and wisdom of a first grader to forgive the shooter. Right now I just can’t do it.Jim Root
Linda J - May 27, 2022 6:37 pm
that was a hard one to read. Out of the mouths of babes who leave the politics out of this and speak from their hearts. It is really simple to prevent this, folks.
Belinda Crowell - May 28, 2022 12:20 am
That was powerful, Sean! Thanks for sharing .
Lynn Harper - May 30, 2022 10:13 pm
How moving. Kids are so truthful, and they say what they are thinking. Reading their prayers, I had tears rolling down my checks. I’ve got a great granddaughter that is the age of the kids killed and it really made be stop and think about the situation. God bless all the children, the teachers, the families and especially the loved ones of those killed.
CR Unruh - June 1, 2022 2:51 pm
My heart aches for a nation gone awry… so many people hurting.. so much prejudice… so many young people with no anchor… and along come our little teachers and lead us to our truth.. God bless all your hurting anxious hearts with the love and forgiveness of little child…