The first headline reported there were gunshots occurring around 9:50 p.m. at a Black Lives Matter protest in downtown Dallas. The suspect claimed to have planted bombs all over the city, but none were found. By 10:24 p.m., it was reported that at least one Dallas police officer had been shot. It was then reported that at least four officers were shot and killed by midnight. The fifth and final officer had been pronounced dead by 1:45 a.m. on July 8. There were also 10 other officers who sustained injuries and one civilian. At 4:02 a.m., the Dallas Morning News reported that the gunman, Micah Xavier Johnson, had been killed following a shootout between him and police in the parking garage of El Centro College. This day is now known as the second deadliest day for law enforcement officers since the attacks on Sept. 11.

Dallas, Texas. To some, it’s just another major U.S. city. To many others and me, we consider it home. I have lived in a small town right outside of Dallas for 21 years now. Yes, there are violent crimes and shootings in that area. A deadly attack on police? I never would’ve thought something like that would happen so close. Not only do I live near where this happened, but my father is a police officer in a neighboring town and was at work during this tragic night. It doesn’t just hit close to home. It’s close to my heart.

I hadn’t heard of what was going on until I saw the CNN breaking news alert after work when I checked my phone at around 11 p.m. I stopped immediately in my tracks from shock and pure fear. Some of the thoughts running through my head were, “What if that had been my dad? What if that was his town? What if they get called to help catch the suspect? Why would someone do such a thing?” I sent a text to my dad to check on him but didn’t hear back that quickly, so my sister called him. Luckily, his department was OK, and they weren’t being called to help, but they were on alert just in case something did happen. It's not just civilians that are victims to gun violence but the ones who risk their lives protecting us can be ambushed out of nowhere. They deserve a lot more respect than they are given.

All of the victims in this tragic night had families, friends and loved ones. When did we become a country full of violence? This and every other violent event that has happened this last week has left me speechless. We shouldn’t have to walk the streets in fear of someone attacking us because of our profession, our race, our gender, our sexual orientation or anything else about us. We are all Americans and children of God. We should love one another as we love ourselves.

Praying is the best thing that we can do for our country, the city of Dallas, and all of the families affected by this. Pray for peace while everyone is going through this. Pray that the violence will subside. Pray that we can all learn to love each other despite the choices we make in life. Just. Pray.

“….remember the good of God in the frost of adversity.” — Charles H. Spurgeon