Christian Mother Shares Thoughts on Michael Brown Shooting and Losing Her Son to Gun Violence
Monica Hawkins is the author of A Shattered Heart: A Journey of Hope, Trust, and Healing, which details her experience after losing her son to gun violence. Hawkins spoke with The Christian Post about the role faith played in her healing and how she hopes to help others dealing with a similar loss.
"My faith is the core of my healing and without my relationship with God, the grief would have caused me to be angry, hopeless and depressed. But God came to heal my broken heart," Hawkins explained. "Even when I questioned, 'Where are you God?' He was right there and He continues to comfort me and heal my heart."
Hawkins' son Donte was murdered in May 2012 and attended Clarion University, working towards a degree in criminal justice. After his murder, Hawkins was left devastated and confused about what had happened and why it had happened to his family. She now has a ministry in speaking to other families about overcoming tragedy.
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"Acknowledge the pain," Hawkins said she would tell another person dealing with debilitating grief. "It is not something you get over. It is now a part of who you are, but through counseling and the support of loved ones, you can learn how to get through it. Get counseling and identify your real support system. Take care of yourself. The pain at times will be unbearable but stay open to the process of forgiveness and believing God and your journey of hope, trust and healing will begin."
Donte's killer has never been identified, but Hawkins has still forgiven him. It was important to her but only came through trusting God.
"No matter how much I wanted him to suffer, it will never stop my pain," she explained. "So, I chose to believe God's Word and walk by faith to letting God handle the killer and to allow God to heal my heart. You can't do it without God. It is a process but with God all things are possible."
The nation recently observed the funeral of Michael Brown, another young man killed who was shot by police in Ferguson, Missouri. Hawkins knows about the grief of losing a child and offered advice to the Brown family.
"I would tell them to allow God to comfort them and to be patient with the process. Make sure you have a safe place to deal with the emotions. You can begin again, if you trust God and forgive," she said.
Hawkins has established the Delivering More Help foundation in Donte's honor. The scholarship fund helps students purchase their books in order to stay in school. Anyone interested in applying for, or donating to, the foundation can click here.
A Shattered Heart: A Journey of Hope, Trust, and Healing can be purchased here.
