In Rememberance

I sit here writing this at 2:30am, attempting to make sense of the most heartbreaking tragedy that I have ever had the unfortunate privilege of learning about.  But to draw concerns to my emotions would be selfish.  What about the parents of the 20 young victims who kissed their children goodbye for the last time this morning?  What about the grandparents who dreamed of the day they would see their grandchildren walking down the aisle?  What about the children, both victims and survivors, who had to live through the most painstaking and incomprehensible 5-minutes of terror that this world may ever come to know?  My heart bleeds for them.

To the loved ones who had their lifelong joys removed from their sides today, I promise you, their memories will live on.  I promise you that their moments of laughter, joy, courage, and inspiration will be shared and appreciated by all, as if they were our own children.  I promise you that we will comfort and console you, and stand by your side in order to recognize and properly honor the cheerful souls that blessed us with their presence on this earth.

To the teachers and staff members that instinctively ran to the protection of the children they loved, I commend you as the most courageous and selfless citizens of the human race.  Many of you made the ultimate sacrifice, leaving behind grieving families and friends of your own.  We will remember you as people whose lifelong mission consisted of aiding in the development of others in order to make the world a better place.  You are heroes.

However nonsensical or saddening these events may be, we must count our blessings and lift up our neighbors in a sign of solidarity and support.  Life is precious, and to treat each other’s lives with the amount of dignity and respect that we treat our own is the greatest gift that we could ever come to know.  Love one another.  Protect one another.  Cherish one another. 

God Bless You.