Friday, December 14, 2012

In Memoriam

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Martin Luther King, Jr.
No doubt by now the news of the deaths of 20 school children and 6 adults at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut has reached around the globe. It is a senseless tragedy.

As a parent, as a human being, I feel shattered. Newtown was a tiny little town "where nothing ever happened" much like the town in which I have raised my own children.  I don't watch much news because it affects me too deeply on an emotional level.  The little I saw tonight had me in tears.

My heart wrenches for the parents who will spend Christmas Day without the overly excited kindergarten child who still believed wholeheartedly in Santa Claus and couldn't wait for the day to come. I can't even begin to imagine how hard it will be for them.  And my heart goes out to the parents of the children who survived, who will have to deal with the aftermath, the nightmares and flashbacks, the fear, the innocence of childhood ripped away at such a tender age. Nothing will ever be the same for any of them. Tomorrow the world will not look quite as bright as it did this morning. They will heal, and move on with time, but their reality has been forever altered.

I know nothing of the story of the young man behind this tragedy, who killed his own mother and then went into an elementary school and shot at dozens of innocent children. I can't fathom what would drive someone to that type of violence. I feel terrible sorrow for his brother who was first wrongly accused of having been the gunman, and then left to deal with the death of his mother and his brother and all of the pain his brother has caused.

I have no wisdom to offer. I have no answers. All I can offer in this moment is love.  And I'm sending all the love I can muster out into the Universe, to help get these people through the next day, the next week, to begin the healing for this tiny town, to let them know that others share their sorrow.  Will you join me?


15 comments:

Alison said...

Beautifully written Cheri...my heart too goes out to everyone involved in this tragedy
Alison xx

Jo.C said...

Eloquently put. Just been watching the news updates. A very sad day. Our thoughts are with you all xx

Anonymous said...

Like you I cannot begin to imagine what those poor people left behind must be feeling but you have so movingly put into words what many of us feel.

Maria Ontiveros said...

Thank you for putting this into words. You are so very wise.
Rinda

Amy said...

Yes, I agree.

I do have a question though - why do these events, and I say events because tragically several have occurred recently in America, not cause the general population to stand up and demand a change in the gun laws? Relatively easy access to guns and ammunition seems crazy to me. The whole thing is sickening. Please take my comment as an observation of an outsider - I may be off the mark completely and I in no way mean to demean the feelings of anyone close to the situation.

debs14 said...

You have written exactly what I have been thinking. I cannot begin to imagine how those who witnessed this and have lost their children will get through the days. Nor those emergency workers who had to deal with the aftermath, this will touch them forever.
Like Amy, as an outsider who lives in a country where we have strict weapon laws, it seems the most obvious way to stop this happening again is to make the weapons harder to access and for possession to be restricted. No parent should have to go through this totally unnecessary heartbreak.

humel said...

I'm joining you. I've been praying so hard for all concerned ever since we started to hear the dreadful news yesterday. My heart breaks for all those families. Thank you for finding the words that I couldn't, Cheri xx

alexa said...

Your words and thoughts are eloquent, Cheri and I am thinking of all those who are being affected, near and far...

Melissa said...

Lovely post Cheri. I, too, get emotional with this type of news & have only read accounts on the internet - I just couldn't turn on the TV to see & hear it, too. My three youngest nieces were here yesterday, and I hugged them extra tight before they headed back home.

scrappyjacky said...

I'm joining you,Cheri.....such a tragic,senseless tragedy.

Karen said...

I, too, was brought to tears, and I've been lifting up prayers for everyone affected since I heard the news. Like Amy (but not an outsider) I fail to understand how the NRA can keep us captive to such destructive gun laws.

Elizabeth said...

Beautifully written, Cheri.

Kara N said...

Thank you for writing this Cheri - a beautiful tribute.

MonicaB said...

Beautifully written. I know when I read the news I went to my boys and hugged them tight. My thoughts, love and prayers have been with those families.

Missus Wookie said...

Beautifully written - like so many I've not read/watched much. But as I know and love so many six year olds this hit home (having an adult son on the spectrum who plays video games hit too....)

Have you seen the PTA are asking for snowflakes to decorate the school?