This morning our world changed, a lot. It scares me at times when I think of the world my children are going to be raised in. Today my four year old son (indirectly) lost a little bit of his innocence- and it killed me.
When Omar and I were of school age, the worse thing was “stranger danger” and making sure to never take candy from someone we didn’t know. Not mention looking both ways before crossing the street. Does anyone else remember that cheesy movie reel (at least at my school it was a reel and not a VHS video) where the kid’s ball rolled across the street??? That was our biggest concern folks. Or the now meaningless tornado drill? As if hiding under our desks was really going to make a difference. But the point is, our parents would drop us off at school daily with the notion that we were safe.
Today, that all changed drastically. I know that this has not been the first time, my first tragic memory of this type of horror was back in high school- my Junior year with Columbine. I hate to seem as if it was acceptable back than, but the whole loner who got picked on by other kids made sense in a very demented way. I could understand why the shooters decided to allow the devil into their head and kill their fellow classmates. But today--- today I am at a loss for words with a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes.
My Omi is only four years old, two years younger than 20 of those little angels taken today. I know what those babies are capable of, how much light they bring into the lives of anyone they meet. I could not fathom dropping my child off at school, giving them their good bye hug and kiss and it being the last time I hear their voice. It breaks my heart, over and over again.
The most difficult part has been trying to explain to Omi that he needs to be careful in school. At four years old I should not be trying to find a way to explain a massacre to him in a manor that will not freak him out but still make him aware of what is going on and what he should do if such a monster would come into his classroom. It’s not right- and what pains me more is that there are 20 sets of parents who will not have to explain it to their little ones. Not to mention all the other children who had to live through the hell on earth in Newtown, CT.
I want to make sure to not forget those beyond brave teachers and staff. True heroes in their own standing. They deserve all the beauty that is heaven and are sure to have their place there along side the children they lost their lives trying to save. I pray that all my children have teachers with as much heart and dedication as those taken today during their scholastic years.
The horrible reality is that so many families were affected by this massacre both directly and indirectly. I pray for them all. I pray for those parents who will be missing one of their babies on Christmas morning, unfortunately your lives will never be the same. I pray for the loved ones of all the teachers and staff and the difficult days ahead of them. I pray for all the children who were in Sandy Hook Elementary that tragic day and will have to live with that memory for the rest of their lives. I pray for all the first responders who had to discover all those little bodies and may they find peace, no training can prepare you for such a horrific scene. I pray for all teachers who’s lives were rattled that day, and likely found themselves asking the question “would i die for my students”. I pray for my children and the world they will grow up in, I am sorry it is so different from the one that was given to me and I wish we had taken care of it more. And I pray for our nation, we simply MUST find a way to keep this from occurring again.
Matthew 19:14 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”
The most precious gifts we have in this world are our children, please raise them to be an asset to the world.
