Saturday, December 15, 2012

Brenna is rarely still enough to fall asleep on my chest, but tonight she did. I think that she knew that I needed it. To feel her heart beat against my chest screaming that she is healthy and alive.  My heart is aching so badly for all of the families involved in the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting. I cannot even begin to imagine what I would do to coupe, or how I would even manage to take my first step after hearing the news. I have literally been in tears on and off since I heard the news. I just think about my beautiful children and I feel so blessed. I think about Christmas coming so fast and the birthdays that we will celebrate soon after....then, I think about all of the families who will never celebrate a holiday or a birthday the same, all because of a senseless, selfish act.

I have been hearing so much about the children. I think it is just so hard to make any sense of it. Of all of the people, why take the lives of innocent children. I haven't heard enough about the school staff. The teachers that hid their classes in closets and under book shelves. The teacher that hid her class, told them to be quiet and when the gunman entered, told him that she had dropped them off at the gym. She very selflessly saved those precious babies lives and lost hers. Or the custodian that ran up the hall telling everyone to get down, making sure that classroom doors were locked. Or the police and medics who have these horrific images burned into their minds.

I know that there are no words that can be said that will help bring any sense to this. There are no words that can take the immense pain away that these families are feeling.  What we can do for them is pray. We can pray that they find some kind of peace. We can pray that they remember that one day, they will be reunited with their precious angels.

Even those of us who were not directly impacted by this tragic event have been impacted for life. This is something that will never leave our minds. We are not just grieving for these families, we are grieving with them.

So, in the morning- when your kids get up at the crack of dawn and you didn't plan on waking up until 9....instead of complaining, take the extra hours to love on them. Tickles in bed, watch their favorite cartoons and try to copy the funny characters voices, let them help you make breakfast or let them pick out their outfit for the day and when they come in the living room to show you, tell them how stunning they look in their red shirt, yellow pants and pink boots. Praise them for who they are and all that they bring to your life. TELL them how much you love them, don't just expect that they know.  Remember that God knew you. He wanted YOU to have those beautiful souls for a reason.

With the hustle of life, we tend to miss out on so many important moments. For the Moms and Dads that were so wrongfully stripped of their mornings, hug and kisses and sleepy I love yous, TAKE ADVANTAGE of these moments that you are blessed with.

We are not guaranteed tomorrow. No matter our age, we are never guaranteed tomorrow. I will keep these precious children in my mind for the rest of my days. I will let it be a reminder to me that I never know when the last time I see my kids, my husband, my Grandma or my friends will be. I WILL do my best to make every moment count, because we never know when it will be our last.

Heartfelt prayers are going out from our family, for these beautiful families involved.

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