Broken Hearted

Unless you live in a bubble, you know about the latest mass shooting tragedy.

As a high school teacher in Virginia, the Virginia Tech shootings really shook me up. I had former students there--lots of them.

But this hits me on a whole new level. It sounds so cliche, but motherhood has changed me. With the news reports coming in with new numbers of fatalities, I think of the sweet boy napping in the next room and I can't help but cry for those parents who are not going to be able to hold their babies tonight or ever again.

Schools are supposed to be safe places, for God's sake. We live in America, not a war zone, so we should be able to send our children out the door to school with zero fear that something can or will happen to them. And yet, with what seems like frightening regularity there is breaking news about shootings, or abuse, or whatever.

I'm just venting I guess. I'm scared for us. By us I mean humanity. I'd like to see more care and concern for others. I'd like to see people who were raised to know right from wrong, who can and do get the help they need.

For now, though, my prayers go out to everyone involved. For the families who won't get to hold their babies tonight. For the families who will be holding their terrified and forever scarred babies. For the teachers and administrators who paid the ultimate price to try to keep their school safe, and for their families who will feel the loss painfully this--and every-- holiday season.

I hope that tonight, and every night, we all hold our loved ones close and let them know how loved they are. That is perhaps the last truly safe place.