How ironic that on one of my happiest days as an adult, certainly one of the most happiest days of 2012, one of the most unhappiest days visited our world today. My Friday was an all day play date for my wife and me with our new grandson. From morning to night we had a day to watch our grandson, to make him laugh, to help feed him and change him(well, that would be my wife). Oh what a day. And for us, personally, it was indeed a happy day! In the moments of this day, Wendy and I indeed were present to little Calvin and he surely made us smile, often!
But this day was an awful tragic day for the world, and intently horrible for the people of Connecticut. I first caught a little story on my newsfeed on my android and early reports did not seem that bad. Later, I turned on the TV and found a much more disturbing and shocking story: many were dead, mostly children. Young children died and we now know they number 20. Of course we realize that this means 20 young and innocent lives are snuffed out in such horror. 20 young lives never realize the dreams that many had for them. 20 young lives that leave parents, grandparents, siblings, and so many more empty, lost, devastated, crushed. How remarkably sad. What a terrible waste in human terms and how impactful on any person who has a heart. And let's not forget the 6 adults who tragically lost their lives today too.
I looked upon my grandson with a fresh set of eyes today. What a great gift this thing we so casually call life. My grandson is perfect and special and so sweet. As a grandfather; I smile simply at the mention of his name. As a father, it's been a long time, to be perfectly honest, that I have stopped and thought about how blessed I am to be a dad to two great kids whose lives now take them miles away from where I live. In a particular way I remembered for a brief space of time today that night, several years ago, around this exact time, that my daughter was robbed at gunpoint while simply doing her job at a retail shop. This criminal used a gun to scare her and intimidate her and to control her. Thanks be to God, he did not use that gun in the same manner as today's perpetrator. I remember the weeks and months that she struggled with the aftermath of that night; wondering out loud how every mom & dad who lost their child today is going to cope.
My earlier post tried to convey my feelings on this sad day. Many of us have rushed to facebook and twitter to start pontificating about abortion, gun control and beyond. Read that earlier post. Is all of this really what we need to be hyped up about today? I say no; hell no. Put yourself in the place of all those who personally grieve their tragic loss; pray with and for them. Care about them. Ask God to help us and to have mercy on us and to truly make His presence known to us in tangible ways. Skip the arguments tonight that have NOTHING to do with today's victims.
Love one another. Hold your kids and grandkids tighter; be kind. Listen more; speak less. Do right. Be an example of the faith you proclaim.
If like me you are Catholic, be Christ for one another; offer Masses and Rosaries for these victims. As Americans demand that we should, we must do better than to turn to gun violence, and any and all violence, to solve our petty problems or to mke our grand statements. Americans rise up; we must be a people of God and a people of peace and a people that honors and respects our fellow man.
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