My heart aches this evening after learning more details of
the school shooting in Connecticut.
Twenty children, all very young elementary age, dead, along with seven
adult school employees and the gunman himself.
The words to explain how I feel don't come easily. As one who has lost a child to tragedy, I
know how each and every one of those parents are feeling this evening. It's a feeling I wouldn't wish on my worst
enemy, let alone anyone else. Each of
those parents is missing a piece of their heart this evening - and that piece
will never, ever return. And only those
of us who have experienced it truly understand how it feels.
I have cried several times today watching the coverage. My son died in a car accident and wasn't murdered
by some crazed gunman. I think, if I had
my choice, I would say I'm glad my son died the way he did rather than be
gunned down in a classroom and having to watch as his fellow classmates were
shot before him. I have never looked at
his death from that perspective but it could have been so much worse. My son died without ever really knowing what
happened to him. These kids saw it all
before it happened to them. How
terrified they must have been.
There are already more demands for gun control and the
President, from his remarks, seems
determined to change the gun laws in the United States following this
tragedy. Once again, the sad truth is
that if we outlaw guns for the average, law-abiding citizen, then only those
who mean us harm will have guns in their possession. And that will put us all in danger.
I'm really not trying to start a debate on gun control
because that's not the purpose of this post.
This is about the 20 children and 8 adults, yes, including the gunman
himself, who died today. I'm not going
to waste a whole lot of sympathy on the gunman except to feel sorry that he was
in the shape he was in this morning, but what happened to him to cause him to
kill his own mother (reportedly with a gunshot to the face) and then go to the
school where she worked and kill a classroom full of kindergarteners? It is unfathomable to me.
There are those in this country and the world who would ask
"If God exists, why would He allow this to happen?" My answer is easy. God wants and expects us to turn to Him for
everything but He doesn't force it and He rarely interferes in the daily
activities of mankind on Earth. He leaves us to our own devices - whether we
make good choices or not. And He lets
our choices play out as they will.
May the Almighty God comfort the victims, children, parents
and families of those who died in Connecticut today as only He can. My heart goes out to all of you. You will survive this tragedy but you'll
never be the same. I promise you both of
those things. I wish I could make it
easier but it's not in my power. I'll leave
you with the advice I was given when my son died... "Cry often. It helps."
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