by Seneca Moraleda-Puguan
We live in a world full of perils. Danger can strike anywhere, at any moment, and often when we least expect it.
Just recently, a moment meant to celebrate Filipino culture ended in unspeakable tragedy.
At the Lapu-Lapu Festival in Vancouver, joyful families were struck without warning by an SUV, killing eleven and injuring dozens.
One entire family was lost—including a 5-year-old child—leaving behind only a 16-year-old son to carry the weight of grief.
In Tarlac, Philippines, another tragedy unfolded.
A family en route to a Baguio vacation and a van transporting six children and four adults to a church camp in Pangasinan were sandwiched between a truck and a bus.
The collision killed over ten people and injured more than twenty.
In Illinois, a horrifying incident claimed the lives of four young girls, aged just 7 to 18, when a car crashed into a building hosting an after-school program.
Who could have imagined that a day of fun could turn into the worst day of someone’s life? That in an instant, joy could be replaced by heartbreak?
These tragic headlines – along with news of war, natural disasters, and economic turmoil – confront us daily, shaking our sense of safety.
As a mother, I can’t help but feel anxious and fearful. I worry about my family, especially my children.
My mind sometimes drifts to terrible “what ifs” even on seemingly ordinary days.
What can I do to protect them?
The sobering reality is, I can only do so much. Even within the supposed safety of our homes, danger can find its way in.
Yet I’ve come to accept a deeper truth: our days are numbered, and our lives are not fully in our control.
No amount of planning can guarantee tomorrow. No matter how hard we try, death is a reality we cannot escape. But in that truth, I’ve found a deeper peace.
This peace comes from my faith – a belief that while death is inevitable, it does not have the final say.
Recently, we marked Holy Week and celebrated the resurrection of Jesus.
For me and many others, this is a reminder that in Him, there is hope beyond tragedy, victory over death, and the promise of eternal life.
Death does not get the final say.
As a mother, the best I can do is entrust my family to God.
My husband and I have made it a daily practice to begin and end our days in prayer with our children. Each morning, we entrust them to God before they leave the house. Each evening, we thank Him for His protection and commit the next day to His care.
To fellow moms and dads, let this truth encourage you:
We may not be able to shield our children from every harm, but we can place their lives into the hands of the One who created them. He knows them. He has a purpose and a plan for their lives. The safest place for them to be is in God’s loving care.
Let us surrender our fears and trust the One who holds them, who surrounds them, watches over them, and will bring to completion what He has begun.
May these scriptures bring peace to your heart as you raise your children in a world that feels increasingly frightening and uncertain:
“But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” – 2 Thessalonians 3:3
“For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, ‘Fear not, I am the one who helps you.’” – Isaiah 41:13
“The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.” – Psalm 121:7–8
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” – Psalm 27:1
“In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33
To all the anxious mothers and fathers, take heart. We are not alone, and neither are our children.
God’s hands are big enough to hold them, guide them, and protect them, even when we cannot.
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