 Last week, students, parents, staff, and the community of Mount Horeb Middle School were traumatized by an active shooter threat to their school. The terror, uncertainty, and shock of this incident left a lasting impact on this community. On Monday, the students and staff returned to school for the first time since that threat. Teachers, administration, students, and parents arrived on Monday, still carrying with them the emotions and trauma of that day. LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry teams Charity (Brookfield Lutheran - Brookfield, Wisconsin), Dora (Lutheran High School Association of Greater Milwaukee - Milwaukee, Wisconsin), Grace, Hannah (LCC Staff), Mary (St. Paul's Lutheran - Janesville, Wisconsin), and Samson (Zion - Marengo, Illinois) were there Monday to be with the students and staff, to walk alongside them and give them a safe place of comfort, love, and support. Teachers and students wrapped their arms around the Comfort Dogs and held them close, absorbing their comfort, love, and warmth. Students and staff would bury their faces in the Comfort Dogs' soft fur when needed, wiping their tears away. Samson's handler shared, "As Samson and I followed a class throughout the day, through homeroom, study hall, social studies, math, science, physical education, and Spanish classes, you could see and feel the positive impact on both students and staff from the comfort and compassion we sought to share. We received a warm welcome, and by the end of the day, these wonderful kids and their teachers expressed sincere gratitude for joining them as they moved from class to class. I was particularly touched that Samson and I could be a part of the students planting flowers outside the high school during Spanish class, an idea the teacher had to help with her own and her students' healing." One of Charity's handlers shared this moment, "The most impactful part of my day was just being present when two 6th-grade boys unloaded the details of what they saw and heard to each other. They would reach out to pet or just put their hand on Charity while talking. I was trying to think of something to say to them when I just got the feeling to BE." The best part was when a boy yelled out, 'Hey! These cards have Bible verses we can look up!'" Mary Comfort Dog's team reflected on the day, "Being part of this day revealed how God put us in this school to share His peace and bring some relief and comfort from the stress and fear-filled experience the teachers, staff, and students went through. As the students petted the dogs, they visibly relaxed. Several teachers shed tears as they petted the dogs and released their bottled-up emotions." On Monday, when Dora Comfort Dog and her handler were in the teacher's planning room, a teacher came in and sat on the floor next to them. She sought Dora's fur's soft, warm touch beneath her fingers. As the teacher was petting Dora, she began to cry. Dora's handler was there to listen, comfort, and love this teacher who was carrying so much pain and loss. She was the teacher of the 14-year-old who was killed as a potential threat to the school. God places us where we need to be, directing us to the people who need us to share His love, hope, and comfort. "Comfort, comfort my people, says your God." Isaiah 40:1 We continue to pray to God for the Mount Horeb community as they move forward from this tragedy. Comments are closed.
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