Right Words

It’s been thirteen years, but I can still hear the phone ringing like if it was just a few minutes ago.   I can see myself picking up the receiver and hear a teacher’s sad voice informing me that a parent of one of our children had been murdered.   The next words she spoke still make my nose burn and my eyes water because no child should ever find her mom’s lifeless body.  

The shock gave way to putting the “protocol” in place.  Phone calls were made.  The crises team met and a staff meeting would be held to action plan the day.   My custodian, my friend, greeted me like he did everyday, but today we weren’t talking sports and general school stuff. We had unspoken code.  No one would bring harm to our school.    I didn’t need say it.  Phil took care of security.

Marianne, our secretary, was the lifeline on this day.  No one knows a principal and a school better than the school secretary.   She could read my mind.  She was a reassuring voice on the phone all day with families.  I didn’t need to say it.  Marianne took care of communicating that kids were safe at school.

I sat in the crises team meeting listening and planning, but I was distracted by the heartache of children loosing their mother.   A leader cannot be distracted in a crisis.   Keeping calm and showing strength is essential for supporting others.   Leaders cry later in the office with elbows on knees and head in hands sitting alone after everyone else goes home. Crying would need to wait.

Teachers are the heart of the school and Hanby teachers were collaborative went to the wall for students.   They cared so much that their hearts were left wide open for hurt.  On this morning, my staff was hurting and in less than thirty minutes we would need to teach children.

I met with the teachers and staff.  We went over the “nuts and bolts” of the plan.  Counselors were ready to guide.   Most importantly, we discussed how to present this tragedy to children.   I trusted the Hanby team and knew they would take care of kids.  But the hurt in my friends’ eyes was showing that they needed something more.  I could see the hurt in their eyes like it was a vivid picture.

The next part still makes me quiver because I cannot explain where the words came from.  I never had openly in my life invited others to pray with me.  Something greater than me was guiding me on this day.  A greater force was giving me a voice to ease my hurting team.

I cannot explain with the logic where these words came from, “I know I am going to be praying this morning, if you would like to pray with me you are invited  to stay.”  Not one teacher or staff member left the room.    We all bowed our heads.   We asked for God’s grace.  We prayed for the strength to help hurting children.  We prayed for the Lord to work through us.  We prayed for a hurting family.

 

The Lord put the right people on the right path to help children on that dark day.   The Lord spoke the right words through a humble principal.   I am forever grateful for what the Hanby staff did for students that day and weeks that followed.   I am forever thankful that the Lord worked through us.