My heart was…is heavy this weekend.
I didn’t let it show to those around me for the most part, we attended a wedding, we enjoyed the company of family, we continued on with life as normal….
but at the back of my mind the whole time, was the suffering of all those affected by the shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary school. I can’t help but cry every. single. time I let myself think about it. My kids keep asking why I am crying at random moments. I don’t know what to tell them. I want to shield them from this horror that no child should ever have to know about, much less experience first hand.
When I heard the news, my seven year old Owen was at school. It hit too close to home. The breath was knocked from my lungs as I tried to grapple with the thought of losing my own child like that.
My arms ache to hug every child, every parent, every loved one left behind to pick up the pieces of this devastation and tell them that there is still good in this world. There is so much good.
I pray that we can all strive to embody that good. That we can all strive to be a little kinder, more patient, more forgiving, more full of love.
At this Christmas time, when many of us celebrate the birth of our Savior. I am grateful for Jesus Christ, who lives, who loves us, and who has the power to heal and comfort in miraculous ways.
I know we all share different belief systems, but one thing we do share is love. So, above all, let us love those around us more fervently.
How neat, if we all simply loved those within our circle of influence a little more and it created a ripple effect of affection that converged on the town of Newtown? Like a giant world wide hug.
My thoughts and prayers are with them this holiday season.
Hugs to you as well my friends.
So true. With the storms that damaged the east coast to the shootings in CT, I think we are seeing the true human spirit at it's best. We need to teach our children to love others and to always give ourselves to those that need help. Have a wonderful holiday.
Jessica
I agree. I have been striving to be a kinder person in general this year, but with these most recent events, I see how it is needed even more.
I'm in the same boat as you. I have a 6 yr old kindergartner. The news really hit me hard. I find myself sobbing like a baby. Uncontrollably. Those poor babies. Those poor parents. They are on my mind constantly and I've been using my own kids to keep my mind at bay. Thank you for your thoughts, and Merry Christmas!
I thought it was just me. I am crying anytime I think about it. I awakened at 5:30 this morning with it on my mind and tears in my eyes.
I have hugged my children to the point of them asking what is wrong.
I like your idea. I think we do need more love and kindness in this world. It all starts with us.
Thank you for sharing that.
~Michelle
You said this so beautifully. We all feel the loss and the heartache so keenly. – Suzanne
Beautiful Delia. I read it this morning but had to come back and comment. Thank you!
Well said 🙂
Most of the time I follow your blog posts silently– as I chase around my toddler who likes to POUND the keyboard — leaving you typically without a comment from me. :o) But I am up late now, reading this- and I have to thank you for writing about faith. Spreading your faith. Faith in Jesus Christ. Faith that our savior and deliverer who loves us, loves those kids, and loves
Beautiful thoughts Delia. Thanks for sharing your feelings and pain with us, its something that I just can't fathom as a parent and can't understand as a person.
Being kind and compassionate toward others is critially important, and I would add spendng time creating special lasting memories with your children and grandchildren. And now that we are all grappling with the incomprehensble deaths of 26 vulnerable people, I wish the media would provide us with an avenue and encourage all Americans to share ideas for avoiding anything like this from happening
this is beautiful delia, touches my heart. 🙂
Beautiful words. Our priest had a beautiful sermon yesterday that really calmed my heart. Friday night was absolute turmoil trying to be cheerful for my children as we celebrated our family traditions. So many emotions that are so difficut to deal with. Thanks for sharing Delia.
Beautifully written, Delia. Thanks for sharing. I walked around all of Friday feeling like I'd had the wind knocked out of me too, and dropping Em off at school this morning had me crying once again. It's a scary type of intense grief I'm feeling for those sweet little ones, and my fierce mama bear attitude is out in full force too. Take care. Hugs to you and yours.
Yes, it hit home for me too. I have a first grader. I still tear up every time I think about it. I can't get over it. My heart and prayers go out to all the parents and loved ones.
great post. so thankful for Jesus. He's the only one that can wipe away this kind of pain.
Thank you for sharing. It really hit me hard and I too have been breaking down in tears every time I allow myself to think about it. I can't even find the words. (you said it beautifully)
I still tear up every time I think about it. I'm catching up on my blog feed and I tear up every blog post that mentions it. It makes me breathless with pain/sorrow and I don't even let my mind really dwell on it, just kind of dance around the outside of the horror, if that makes sense. I know there have been horrors like this since Cain and Abel but the wrongness of it… no words.