The Joy of Number 6

There's Heartbreak in the Big City Tonight (June 6)

All of the citizens of the Kansas City metro area have been fairly traumatized today. Last Saturday evening about 6:30 a beautiful teenage girl was kidnapped out of a Target parking lot. She just graduated from high school a couple of weeks ago. Her life had barely begun.

Her body was found Wednesday afternoon. Senseless. That’s all there is to it. Senseless insanity!

Brothers and sisters, parents; a church family; a school family; a community—all of them shattered like old glass in an alley. Senseless.

If you are a female of any age, race, or marital status, I’m writing to you. It doesn’t matter how much you think you need to do something, please don’t do it alone.

I walk a lot in the evenings and see single women jogging and walking every time. Don’t do that! If you like to jog and walk, get a partner or two or join a club. The fee is cheap insurance.

Shopping after dinner? First, ask yourself if this trip is really necessary. Take a friend. Park close to a business’ front door or wait till tomorrow. Make sure there is plenty of light around you. Check your surrounding at all times. Don’t park against bushes, walls, fences and so forth. Don’t talk on your phone while walking from or to your car. Make sure your keys and cell phone are at the ready before you exit a building and proceed to your car. Walk at a brisk pace and lock your doors as soon as you shut the door. If you have cumbersome packages, leave them inside the store and bring your vehicle close to the door.

If you’re attacked, yell and resist, yell and resist, yell and resist!

You married? Got girls? Teach this to them. Teach this to them. Please teach this to them.

And pray for the Smith family tonight. Is there anything worse that could happen to a family?

"She could walk into a room full of strangers and walk out with a room full of friends."—her dad.

Update (Dec. 13): Our community is still reeling from this. Several other communities have since suffered similar incidents.

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