The recent news of the Connecticut shootings has struck me hard. My heart has ached for the families who have lost a loved one, especially a child. My thoughts have turned to the fact that this can happen to any of us at anytime. I have run scenario after scenario in my mind of how these families must be feeling right now. The anger, sadness and complete loss they are experiencing. I too have been there. Loosing my dad felt like the end of the word. Loosing a child like these families have, would feel like a death sentence.
I remember as a first grade teacher having to practice lock down drills with my students. The principal would come on the intercom and say a certain "phrase" that would tell us that we were to check the hall for children, lock our doors, and then gather the children into the corner until we got the "all clear." I would laugh inside each time we practiced this drill because I felt it was a little ridiculous. After all, what kind of crazy person would want to enter an elementary school and hurt 6 and 7 year old children? That was 10 years ago. Although I thought it was a little silly to be practicing these drills, my heart would race and my hands would shake as I sat in the corner huddled with my students. The thought that this was where our schools were heading felt scary to me. The idea that someone could enter those doors and hurt one of my students frightened me as a teacher. Here we are 10 years later with a tragedy that seems unimaginable.
My heart aches for this community, for the families that have lost their daughter, son, wife, and mother. My heart is aching for the teachers who were doing what they loved and are no longer able to influence the lives of their students. I don't know how you ever move on from something like this. I can't imagine as a parent having to live through this. As I have watched the news and read on the internet about this horrible tragedy, this particular father has been on my mind since I watched him interviewed just hours after loosing his young daughter. I don't know if I could be as Christlike as he has been in the wake of such tragedy. This particular paragraph has really stuck out to me.
" It's a horrible tragedy and we want everyone to know that our hearts and prayers go out to them. This includes the family of the shooter. I can't imagine how hard this experience must be for you. I want you to know that our family and our heart and our support goes out to you as well."
How do you forgive someone who took the life of your child? I have thought about this over and over and really don't know if I would be as forgiving. This father is an amazing example to me on how to be a better person.
As the days and weeks pass on, my hope and prayer is that these families will find peace and comfort. I hope they will feel the prayers that are being said for each of them. I hope they know that there are many of us who are thinking of them and praying that they will be able to make it through this somehow.
I remember as a first grade teacher having to practice lock down drills with my students. The principal would come on the intercom and say a certain "phrase" that would tell us that we were to check the hall for children, lock our doors, and then gather the children into the corner until we got the "all clear." I would laugh inside each time we practiced this drill because I felt it was a little ridiculous. After all, what kind of crazy person would want to enter an elementary school and hurt 6 and 7 year old children? That was 10 years ago. Although I thought it was a little silly to be practicing these drills, my heart would race and my hands would shake as I sat in the corner huddled with my students. The thought that this was where our schools were heading felt scary to me. The idea that someone could enter those doors and hurt one of my students frightened me as a teacher. Here we are 10 years later with a tragedy that seems unimaginable.
My heart aches for this community, for the families that have lost their daughter, son, wife, and mother. My heart is aching for the teachers who were doing what they loved and are no longer able to influence the lives of their students. I don't know how you ever move on from something like this. I can't imagine as a parent having to live through this. As I have watched the news and read on the internet about this horrible tragedy, this particular father has been on my mind since I watched him interviewed just hours after loosing his young daughter. I don't know if I could be as Christlike as he has been in the wake of such tragedy. This particular paragraph has really stuck out to me.
" It's a horrible tragedy and we want everyone to know that our hearts and prayers go out to them. This includes the family of the shooter. I can't imagine how hard this experience must be for you. I want you to know that our family and our heart and our support goes out to you as well."
How do you forgive someone who took the life of your child? I have thought about this over and over and really don't know if I would be as forgiving. This father is an amazing example to me on how to be a better person.
As the days and weeks pass on, my hope and prayer is that these families will find peace and comfort. I hope they will feel the prayers that are being said for each of them. I hope they know that there are many of us who are thinking of them and praying that they will be able to make it through this somehow.
