This is why I weep and my eyes overflow with tears. No one is near to comfort me, no one to restore my spirit. My children are destitute because the enemy has prevailed." – Lamentations 1:16

Today's Scripture Reading (September 19, 2026): Lamentations 1

Victoria Soto was a teacher who died in the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012. As we pieced together the events of that day in the aftermath of the tragedy, Victoria quickly emerged as one of that day's heroes. As the shooter entered the school, the 27-year-old first tried to hide the children under her care, but when that didn't work, she died doing her best to protect them. For her actions on that day, she was awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal. President Obama, speaking at a memorial service a few days after the tragedy, spoke of the emotional loss that the nation had suffered at Sandy Hook. He said that "mere words cannot match the depths of your sorrow, nor can they heal your wounded hearts ... These tragedies must end. And to end them, we must change."

That last phrase is likely the most important thing President Obama said: we must change. There is probably no better thermometer of the human condition than watching how we treat our children. The events at Sandy Hook and other school shootings are tragic: they should never have happened. Yet another tragedy, which is far more widespread, seems to be going unnoticed. It is a crime against the world's children. They are being neglected, and they are slowly dying in numbers greater than we can imagine. Those lucky enough to survive are damaged for life, all because of the neglect that we have willingly inflicted on them. We are willing partners in the destruction of the children; the judgment stands against us. These treasures, which should be protected, are being discarded. It seems that no one is there to stand up and protect them. Something must change if we, as a race, are going to survive.

Jeremiah doesn't choose this imagery by accident as he looks at the destruction of Jerusalem. Speaking of the death of his nation, he likens it to the death of children. Helpless, the people have died, the city has died, and the nation has died. The very people who should have been there to protect the children, the Victoria Sotos of Jeremiah's society, were absent. They failed at their responsibility. However, they were not unable to save the children; they were unwilling to make the required adjustment.

This is why Jeremiah says he weeps. It should not have ended this way. It did not have to end this way. A change was necessary, but no one was willing to make it. As a result, that lack of change brought an unspeakable tragedy. Jeremiah was sure that God's judgment would continue for a while. It was a judgment that they deserved, because they had failed to protect the children.  

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Lamentations 2