God Helps a Brave Mother Keep Her Little Children Quiet for 5 Hours To Survive Terrorist Attack
June 27, 2014
If you are a mother, chances are your protective instincts have caused you to imagine the most outrageous and tragic circumstances - even though many of them will never happen. But in those wild daydreams, you have likely imagined clever plots, quick, and even self-sacrificing plans to save, rescue, and protect your dear children. If you are not a mother, chances are, you had one that did this for you.
Tragedy became real for a brave mother named Faith Wambua-Luedeling as she protected her nine-year-old and 21-month-old from a terrorist attack in a Keynan mall. While this happened a few months ago, it was recently that this photo won the Pulitzer Prize.
Faith took her young children on a Saturday trip to the mall to shop for flowers and an anniversary gift to surprise her husband. Their second anniversary was just two days away.
"It was now when we walked back into the building after being frisked that we heard a very loud bang," she said. "At the time in my mind, I thought the building was collapsing. I thought it was an earthquake or something. I could hear people screaming."
Her instincts led her to hit the floor with her children in hand and in an open area where debris couldn't fall on them. She quickly ruled out going into a small shop because it was too many things on the shelves that could potentially fall and hurt her children.
"My mind just told me that the open air was the safest place," Faith said.
"I didn't know where to run. I found myself in the corner near the service counter. And that's just where we laid down," she said.
Faith then realized that what she was hearing were gunshots. At first, she thought that it was a robbery and assumed that it would be over quickly. But hours went by and gunshots were still firing. It was in those moments when Faith played dead and helped her children do the same.
"We were just lying there and there would be shooting going on, then it would stop. There were times I could hear the bullet casing dropping on the floor near us. We could smell the gunpowder and we would really be scared," she said.
Her young children were bubbling with curiosity and began asking questions. Faith told them that she didn't know what was going on. At the time she didn't know that there were 10-15 terrorists performing a planned attacked just steps away from her. She told them to keep still and be quiet. This was something that was so simple, but it seemed impossible, especially for her toddler boy. "Just don't look up. Don't look around," she said to them. She said she prayed, "God, please keep these children still." She even pleaded with God to make her children unconscious so that they may survive.
Faith said she felt the hand of God that day. God's presence was with them so much that the family felt calmness in the middle of chaos. She felt a peace come over her and her children. Faith described it as a protective covering. She was without fear which surprised her, and that's when her toddler son fell asleep for a few hours.
"It was amazing," Faith said. God was there with them orchestrating every little detail.
Even when a civilian attempted to lead her to safety prematurely, God protected them. Faith recalls the civilian calling for her, "You, mother lying there with the children."
"And then I looked up and they said 'Get up and go, it's safe.' So we got up and immediately I heard the gunshots again."
The mother got back down with her children and made them play dead one more time. Finally, an officer came crawling toward the family. Faith thought it was a trick and at first, she didn't budge when he called for them.
"But when I saw that policeman and he told us everything is fine, I knew our prayer had been answered and we were safe," she said. Faith and her two children escaped to safety. God was surely watching and protecting them from an unthinkable tragedy.
Sometimes we face troubling circumstances in life and we do the best that we can to make it through. In those times we quickly realize that our human strength is limited, but the strength of God is without end. It is only because of God's grace that a toddler and his sister were able to remain quiet and still for nearly five hours. Faith trusted God to protect her and her children and He did. Even through the healing pains of the aftermath, she stills holds on to His promises with so much hope and faith. She lives up to her name.
"We know the same God who really helped us through that ordeal will help us even through this mental trauma," she said. "And we know at some point this will come to an end."
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
h/t: NBC News , NTV Kenya
Featured Image Credit: YouTube
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Transforming Worry into Trust - Your Daily Prayer - October 24
Worrying does nothing to benefit our lives in any way; it only takes away. It takes away the present moments and present joy you could experience, not to mention it takes away from a peaceful life.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Transforming Worry into Trust - Your Daily Prayer - October 24
Worrying does nothing to benefit our lives in any way; it only takes away. It takes away the present moments and present joy you could experience, not to mention it takes away from a peaceful life.
Past Stories
- 6-Year-Old Starts 'Poop Scooping' Business to Help Animals and Adopt One of His Own
- Bride's dad Drops During Father-Daughter Dance, but Things Lined up Perfectly to Save His Life
- Young North Carolina Father Risked His Life To Save a Couple and Dog From a Sinking Truck
- UPS Driver Jumps into Action As He Spots Elderly Woman on the Ground & Says It Was All God
- Rescuer Braces for the Worst After Spotting Kitten on the Side of the Road, Then Sees a Paw Move
- AJ Griffin Gives Up High-Paying Career with NBA to Follow God
- These Former Conjoined Twins Finally Go Home After Their First Birthday
- Teenager From Iowa Uses His Flying Skills to Help Hurricane Helene Victims
- Son Saves For 9 Months and Surprises Mom By Paying Off Her Mortgage
- Woman's Home is Surrounded By 100 Raccoons, and They Aren't Leaving Anytime Soon
- Dog Saves Her Owner's Life By Sitting in the Middle of the Road
- Widower Shares the Last Thing His Wife Told Their Son Before She Passed Away From Cancer
- A Nurse Saved Her Life 35 Years Ago, Now, She is Surprising Her With a Visit
- These Twin Sisters Have An Important Message To Share On Their 102nd Birthday
- This Brave 5-Year-Old Saved Her Mother's Life By Calling 911
- 79-Year-Old Broke Her Ankle After Scattering Her Mom's Ashes, Then Strangers Save the Day
- Dad Travels Through Mud and Debris to Walk His Daughter Down the Aisle
- Owner's Trip to the Vet with Unwell Dog Results in the Craziest X-Ray
- After Getting Lost in Yellowstone, This Precious Cat Made His Way Back Home To California
- Mom's Funny Response To Daughter's Dirty Sock On The Floor Goes Viral & Ends Up Doing Good
- A Kidnapped Boy Is Found After 70 Years and Reunited With His Family
- This Puppy Was Found With a Note That Read 'Help Me,' Now He's Looking For a New Home
- Excited Mom Couldn't Wait to See Son's Back to School Pictures, but Funny Results Make Her LOL
- When This Police Officer Pulled Her Over, He Changed Her Life Forever
- She Just Met Her Vietnam Veteran Father After 50 Years, Now He is Walking Her Down the Aisle
- Fearless Father Waits on Porch to Catch the Stranger Peeking in His Daughter's Window
- This 5th Grade Teacher Eats Lunch In the Cafeteria Every Day
- Amy Grant Has a New Perspective After Losing Her 'Superpower' in Bike Accident
- 'God Did It' Says 18-Year-Old After Waking Up From a Coma Following a Crash
- These Four Sisters Share a Birthday, Which is Quite the Miracle
- Dad Harmony Sings a Beautiful A Cappella Rendition of ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love'
- Couple's Outstanding Boogie Woogie Dance Performance
- Siblings’ Cover of Dolly Parton’s Classic ‘I Will Always Love You’ Is Incredible
- Pastor and Wife Were Killed in a Car Accident, But Their Kids Have a Message of Hope
- Outstanding 'Amazing Grace' Cover Music Video by Celtic Woman
- Carrie Underwood Helps With Leading Worship at Tennessee Church
- 8-Year-Old Kid's To-Do List Goes Viral As a Wholesome Reminder for Us All
- 'Holy Forever' Lyric Video by Chris Tomlin and CAIN
- Elementary Teacher Talks About the Power of Words and Kindness By Using Toothpaste
- Prayers Pour in for Loretta Lynn's Family After the Death of the Late Singer's First Grandchild
- Dennis Quaid Singing 'On My Way To Heaven" is an Inspiring Performance
- Charming Elderly Couple Share Sweet Dance to 'Have You Ever Seen The Rain?"
- Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick Adorably Sing a Sassy Duet to Celebrate 36 Years of Marriage
- Rory Feek Performs Beautiful Tune 'I Do' After Finding Love Again
- Driver Shows Up to Deliver Pizza to Elderly Man's House, Then Comes Back with His Lawnmower
- What Parents & Grandparents Don't Know About 'Easy' Recipe Trend Could Be Dangerous
- Nearly 1,500 Students Gather to Worship Jesus at Texas A&M Revival
- 96-Year-Old Shares the Secret to a Happy Life and His Words of Wisdom Are Truly Inspiring
- In God's Divine Timing, Wedding Ring Is Returned to Man's Widow After It's Lost for 60+ Years
- Rock Singer's Powerful Rendition of 'I Will Always Love You'
Top Music Videos
CCM Magazine Steven Curtis Chapman Shares the Heartfelt Message that Helped While Grieving His Daughter
Crowder Crowder Moving Official 'Somebody Prayed' Music Video
The Statler Brothers 'Til the Storm Passes By' The Statler Brothers Live Performance
Mandisa Mandisa - Shackles (Praise You)
Anne Wilson Anne Wilson 'The Cross' Powerful Lyric Video
Blogs
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.