By David Ettinger
Morbid Headlines
Every morning I check the headlines. This morning, two particularly galling headlines were so morbid, they had be saying: “Lord Jesus, Come Right Now!” Neither of these headlines had to do with riots, Covid-19, or politics. Rather, they concerned matters much closer to the heart, the inner sanctum of the soul where words fail miserably.

The First Headline
The first headline read: “Father Kills Terminally Ill Daughter, Himself.” I couldn’t bring myself to click on the story; I didn’t need to. The facts seemed evident.
Knowing his darling 11-year-old princess was dying and suffering immensely, the man could no longer bear it. In his wretched despair he sought to end their suffering, and acted in a matter which accomplished it.
Was this the actual scenario, I don’t know, but it’s what I imagined. I was able to imagine it because as I single father of one child, I was able to place myself in this man’s shoes. My son Aaron, who is now 36, was 2 when his mother and I divorced, and I raised Aaron as what he was: the love of my life.
Despite being divorced, I was a 7-day-a-week father, and raising Aaron to adulthood was the driving focus of my life. I often feared I would lose him; that I would outlive him. I feared something terrible would befall him, whether a fatal traffic accident or disease.
Had this happened – and despite my faith in the Lord Jesus – I don’t know if I could have gone on living. If Aaron had died at age 11, I have no idea what I would have done.

The Second Headline
The second headline reads: “Grandmother Loses Her Life Protecting 4-year-old During Powerful Storm.”
If my son Aaron is the love of my life, my grandson Zac – who turns 4 December 1 – is the joy of my life. Admittedly, when I read the headline, I misread it as both the grandmother and grandson dying. However, it was just the grandmother who died – while clutching her beloved grandson.
I did click on this story and saw a picture of the two from happier days; the grandmother embracing her chubby little angel (who bears a striking resemblance to Zac) and him smiling in delight. I could only imagine the fear that struck both of them as the storm toppled their trailer home and the grandmother holding on to her grandson for dear life – both of their lives.
Naturally I put myself into the grandmother’s situation, and it rocked me to my core.
The Return of Christ
Of course such horrors – and so many more – occur every day on this evil planet, but these two, because I could so easily relate to them, had me reeling. To outlive my son or to not have many years with my precious grandson is too much for me to consider. And yet, both are entirely possible as this sin-sick orb upon which we exist grows ever darker. Such realities make me cry out, “Lord Jesus, delay no longer: Come right now!”

Of course, the return of Christ is to be preceded by several events, so He will not return “at any moment.” Furthermore, as I have written about before, there are still many people in my life who have not accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and the longer it takes for Him to return, the better the odds of them coming to faith.
But despite all this, sometimes the horrors of this world have me wishing for the immediate return of Christ, that He may at last put an end to all the wretchedness and usher in His glorious kingdom. This thought comforts me, as does the truth that at that time:
“The Lord’s justice will dwell in the desert, His righteousness live in the fertile field. The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever. My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest” (Isaiah 32:16-18) and “Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces” (Isaiah 25:8).
Oh for that day!
jarilissima
August 12, 2020
You have a big heart and a beautiful family 🙂 Those headlines sure are sad, but may you take comfort in all the good we don’t hear about ~ the happy birthdays, the hugs, the newborns and graduations and all of that! God bless you and your family!
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dettinger47
August 12, 2020
Thank you so much for these great thoughts. You are absolutely correct! And God bless you and your family as well.
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Lady Quixote/Linda Lee
August 12, 2020
I LOVE what you said here! Good and beautiful things happen every day, every hour, all over the world, and we never hear about those wonderful things.
For most of my life I have avoided the news, because so many of the news headlines were triggering for my PTSD. Three years ago I had about thirty neurofeedback treatments, which helped my PTSD so much that now I am able to handle the news. I have been reading and watching news reports several times a day for the past three years, trying to catch up on the years I missed — and WOW, this world, according to most of the news reports, is CrAzY!! Although my PTSD is no longer triggered, I am often deeply saddened by what I see in the news.
Thank you for this great reminder that the news reports are giving us a very skewed perception of what is actually going on. ‘If it bleeds, it leads.’ We need some Happy Headlines!
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dettinger47
August 12, 2020
Well said, Linda.
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seekingdivineperspective
August 12, 2020
“If it bleeds, it leads.” Well said. I’m sick of newscasts where the aim seems to be to terrify us all. “Good news is no news,” but I agree we need “Happy Headlines!” I miss Paul Harvey. He was always following an unpleasant story with “…but wash your ears out with this …” and tell a story of human goodness.
Glad you’re doing better, Linda.
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Lady Quixote/Linda Lee
August 12, 2020
Thank you, dear Ann. Yes, I miss Paul Harvey, too.
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Blue Collar Theologian
August 12, 2020
Hi, David! I saw the first headline yesterday and also didn’t click on the article, brutal. Now more than ever I am asking Jesus to strengthen us and help us process what we hear, read, see etc until He returns. Beautiful pictures, David! Thank you for sharing!
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dettinger47
August 12, 2020
Amen. Thank you, Mandy.
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Tom
August 12, 2020
Thanks, David. It’s definitely a fallen world with lots of horror stories – large scale and small. We desire to see Christ’s return, but, yep, there are still many that need to trust in Him.
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dettinger47
August 12, 2020
Thank you, Tom.
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mrsmariposa2014
August 12, 2020
Most definitely relate, David. I often have the same heart’s cry. Death, particularly a child’s death, rocks me to the core. A large part stems from something I wasn’t even born to witness yet has passed down the generations these last 57 years.My maternal uncle died at age 4 as a result of a hit and run. This story, trickled to me piece by piece, is something I carry daily. My grandparents didn’t know the Lord or how to seek His comfort then. The grief ripped through my mother’s family, my mom blaming herself at age 7 for not stopping it from happening. This greatly affected how she parented my brother and me, leading to her odd mix of smothering and abuse and, in turn, all that also affects my own parenting today. Daily I fight the fear of losing my precious own. I can well imagine the pain of this father that drew him to such a tragic conclusion. The second headline is heartwrenching as well, but, I have to think there is the bitter of the grandmother’s loss and yet the sweet the grandson will know in knowing her love for him was great enough to shield him from harm. May that carry him through a very rough season in life. And, I cannot help but be reminded, it is much like what our heavenly Father does for us. And this truth is what I turn to when my heart grows heavy with these headlines. He’s here in our midst, tending to our every hurt, ready to be our shield. And soon, He will come for us and all will be made right! May this hope keep us afloat in these turbulent seas we are in! Oh, and I love the pictures! Zac is growing up fast! 😊
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dettinger47
August 12, 2020
Thank you for the great insights, Marisa. May God richly bless your precious family in these trying days!
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mrsmariposa2014
August 12, 2020
You’re welcome and thank you so much. Blessings to you and yours as well!
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Lady Quixote/Linda Lee
August 12, 2020
David, I love these pictures. Your little grandson looks a lot like his grandpa.
I have prayed many times that the Lord will not let me outlive any of my children or grandchildren. So I know exactly what you mean.
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dettinger47
August 12, 2020
Thank you, Linda.
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Lisa Beth
August 12, 2020
Thanks for posting wonderful photos, it’s so good to see you, Aaron, and dear Zac!
It is right to cry “Maranatha!” but I have trepidation with the events surrounding that glory, including the vision of our Savior coming with blood stained robe after trampling His enemies. And also, as others mentioned, the grief of knowing loved ones were unsaved.
Marantha, and Lord prepare our hearts!
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dettinger47
August 12, 2020
Amen, Lisa Beth!
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seekingdivineperspective
August 12, 2020
Yes, there is that detail of our unsaved loved ones that keeps us from crying wholeheartedly “Come NOW, Jesus!” A Christian comedian said he hoped that when the Rapture came there would be two sinners within reach, so he could grab one with each hand, wait til they were about 1,000 feet in the air, and say, “OK, do you guys get saved, or do I let go?”
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ken riddles
August 13, 2020
I’m enjoying my two latest grandchildren 1yr. 7 months and 8 weeks – boys. and my other grandchild going on 18 months – girl. That looks like a cool kid by your side! 😎
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dettinger47
August 13, 2020
Thank you, Ken, and here’s to many more years enjoying your kiddos!!
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Sheila D.Currie Blake
August 14, 2020
Thank you for your post. Your family is beautiful. It hurts to know that people still believe that they should take someone else’s life out of good faith, who knows? maybe God would have healed that little girl because all things are possible with him. that grandmother who died saving her grandchild may her soul rest in peace. Amen
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dettinger47
August 14, 2020
Amen, Sheila. I absolutely agree with you.
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SaaniaSparkle 🧚🏻♀️
August 25, 2020
Thanks for this post!
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dettinger47
August 25, 2020
Thank you, young lady.
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