Mother Kills Her Two Children

On Thursday, January 27th in Tampa, FL this woman, Julie Schenecker killed her two children. She first shot her 13-year old son in the car. Later, she returned home and shot her 16-year old daughter in the head while she was doing homework. Julie had bought the gun the week before and was planning on shooting her children. She also planned on shooting herself afterward, but she did not follow through with it. When the police found her, she showed little remorse for her actions. http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/region_tampa/two-murder-victims-found-in-new-tampa?hpt=T2
Reading this story breaks my heart. Her children were good students and well-liked by their peers. Her husband was overseas serving in the military. As a future counselor, I try to imagine how I would respond to Julie's problems in life BEFORE this incident occurred. What did she really need? What or could have helped her before she reached this breaking point? Did she have a mental illness that needed to be assessed? Did she just need some encouragement in life in order for her to work through these struggles? Did she need someone to stick beside her and not give up on her, despite her negative thoughts or feelings? Maybe she just needed to be able to get a different perspective in life, to be hopeful that it would get better.
I do not agree with the decision that Julie made to take innocent lives. I do not know her or the situation well enough to state any definite diagnosis. I honestly am not sure how comfortable I would have been with helping her before this incident occurred. However, this story gives me even more motivation to be proactive in helping others. We never know when people are on their breaking points or what exactly that breaking point may be. As much as I just want to hide from these problems at times, I know that it is not my place. As a Christian, I must be willing to engage hurting people in a sinful world, not run from them. I must also acquire more knowledge and skills while trusting God to lead me to the best way of showing His love to others.