orlando shooting Archives - Stephanie L. Jones

This morning I finished reading Brennan Manning’s book All is Grace. As I think about the past couple of days, the quote below resonated with me. We are constantly judging, trying to change others, want others to follow rules and our lifestyle, but what I know is true is God loves us just as we are. His love isn’t conditional.

He loved each and every person that lost their life in the Orlando shooting.

My friend Kevin Buchanan said it perfectly…”Because they deserve to be known by name. Their stories need to be heard. And more than anything, to know they were loved and their lives mattered.”

Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34 years old
Stanley Almodovar III, 23 years old
Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20 years old
Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22 years old
Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36 years old
Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22 years old
Luis S. Vielma, 22 years old
Kimberly Morris, 37 years old
Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30 years old
Darryl Roman Burt II, 29 years old
Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32 years old
Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21 years old
Anthony Luis Laureanodisla, 25 years old
Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35 years old
Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, 50 years old
Amanda Alvear, 25 years old
Martin Benitez Torres, 33 years old
Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37 years old
Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26 years old
Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35 years old
Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25 years old
Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31 years old
Oscar A Aracena-Montero, 26 years old
Enrique L. Rios, Jr., 25 years old
Miguel Angel Honorato, 30 years old
Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40 years old
Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32 years old
Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19 years old
Cory James Connell, 21 years old
Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37 years old
Luis Daniel Conde, 39 years old
Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33 years old
Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25 years old
Jerald Arthur Wright, 31 years old
Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25 years old
Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25 years old
Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, 24 years old
Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, 27 years old
Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33 years old
Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49 years old
Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, 24 years old
Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32 years old
Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28 years old
Frank Hernandez, 27 years old
Paul Terrell Henry, 41 years old
Antonio Davon Brown, 29 years old
Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, 24 years old
Akyra Monet Murray, 18 years old

Blessings,

Stephanie

About the Author:

Stephanie Jones and her husband, Mike, live in Northwest, IN and enjoy lake life and travel. Stephanie is a writer, speaker, life coach, daily giver and soon to be author of The Giving Challenge: 40 Days to a More Generous Life. She challenges people to be bold in their actions, accomplish and live their big dreams, and bless others daily through giving.

You can contact Stephanie by email at stephanie@GivingGal.com.

No tv. I’ve been on a mini-vacation and the friend I stayed with had no tv. It was good, refreshing. I didn’t miss it, not for a second. Honestly I didn’t notice its absence because I was engaging in conversation, reading, relaxing and challenging myself in the beautiful outdoors of Utah. Over my vacation I took a break from my business and social media. I was excited to get back to posting giving challenges and sharing my adventures.

Arriving at the airport news flooded social media and tv regarding the tragedy in Orlando. My heart broke. As someone who challenges others to give daily, acts like the one that took place would not happen if we are focused on how to love others, how to help others and how not to judge those we don’t agree with or see eye to eye.

Over the days and weeks I challenge you to seek out ways to love those around you, those, who in the past, you may have been judging their lifestyle. I’m not just talking about the LBGT community, I’m talking about the homeless man on the corner, the drug addict who always seems to make excuses, the cheating spouse, unfriendly neighbor…you fill in the blank.

If you are a person that is constantly finding faults in others, it may be time for you to look in the mirror. We tend to judge others to make ourselves feel better. Work on changing your ways, your heart. Work to find common ground.

I encourage you to take time this evening to read about each of the victims. I bet you’ll find you have more in common than think.

For instance, Deonka Deidra Drayton, Kimberly Morris and Akyra Monet Murray all loved basketball. As a girl from the Hoosier state, I have the same love. If I were to have met these women, maybe we would focus on our similarities instead of our differences. Maybe we would go shoot some hoops.

There is a long journey ahead for the families of the victims, survivors, first responders, medical personnel, the community of Orlando and this great nation. Sure I’ll pray, but we need to do more. What more is? I’m not sure. But if I see an opportunity, if you see an opportunity, to give, to do more than pray, to support and take action, do so.

May God bless the USA and change our hearts to be filled with love for one another.

Blessings,

Stephanie

About the Author:

You can contact Stephanie by email at stephanie@GivingGal.com.

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